The tomato basil pasta served at Cheesecake Factory is certainly one of their finest. It’s got bright and fresh flavors from diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and fresh basil. There’s a bit of heat coming from garlic and cayenne. In this tomato basil pasta recipe, we show you how you can easily make it at home. Complete the meal by serving this pasta with caesar salad and zuppa toscana.
Tips on Making Tomato Basil Pasta of Cheesecake Factory
One of the best pasta at Cheesecake Factory, this pasta is savory, a bit spicy, and deliciously aromatic from the fresh ingredients in it. And it’s unbelievably easy to make at home! The original tomato basil pasta of Cheesecake Factory uses penne pasta, but for this we used spaghetti. You can actually use any pasta and it’ll still taste just as delicious. Aside from that, here are more tips on making this pasta dish:
- Undercook the pasta for 3 minutes to achieve al dente. It’ll still be cooked together with the sauce later on. Also, save some of the pasta water. This starchy liquid can be used later on to add moisture to the sauce if it dries out.
- Tomato paste, tomato sauce, and tomato puree can be used interchangeably. Feel free to substitute any of these for the diced tomatoes if you don’t mind not having chunky bits of tomatoes in your pasta.
- Mix in other delicious ingredients to your tomato basil pasta. You can add baby spinach, and sun dried tomatoes for more color and texture, crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce for some spice, and heavy whipping cream or sour cream if you want it creamy. Cheesecake Factory tops it with grilled chicken breasts. However, you can experiment and try bacon, shrimps, salmon, or grilled zucchini and peppers, for instance, for added freshness.
For more Cheesecake Factory copycat recipes, check out this version of the shrimp pasta! The combination of spaghetti pasta in lemon basil cream sauce together with panko-crusted fried shrimp in this bistro shrimp pasta will definitely satisfy your appetite. For meat eaters, we highly recommend steak diane. It’s beef medallion with cognac-infused onion and mushroom sauce.
How To Make Copycat Cheesecake Factory Tomato Basil Pasta
This version of the tomato basil pasta by Cheesecake Factory combines garlic, diced tomatoes, fresh basil, cayenne, and mushrooms to make an elegant pasta dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 5 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 3 oz tomatoes, canned, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- salt and ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 8 oz penne pasta, cooked, cooled
- 1 chicken breast, cut in half
To serve:
- parmesan cheese, grated or powdered
- ⅓ cup mozzarella cheese, fresh, diced
- pesto sauce*, (see Recipe Notes for Recipe)
Instructions
- Combine basil and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil on a skillet on medium high heat.
- Season chicken breast with salt and pepper and sear on both sides until cooked through and golden brown.
- Once done, set aside in a warm area.
- In the same skillet, saute garlic with remaining olive oil until fragrant or golden brown.
- Add basil-oil mixture, cayenne pepper, and tomatoes. Saute briefly.
- Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for a few minutes until slightly reduced for about 5 minutes.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Adjust seasoning as desired.
- Add your pasta and toss to combine. Turn off the heat.
- Slice the chicken breast and arrange your plating.
- Sprinkle with shredded parmesan and diced mozzarella, drizzle with pesto sauce, and top with chicken breast.
- Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- *Make your own Homemade Basil Pesto Sauce at home for this recipe.
Nutrition
- Sugar: 2g
- :
- Calcium: 73mg
- Calories: 471kcal
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Cholesterol: 44mg
- Fat: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Iron: 1mg
- Monounsaturated Fat: 14g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g
- Potassium: 308mg
- Protein: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Sodium: 96mg
- Vitamin A: 406IU
- Vitamin C: 4mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is fresh basil good in spaghetti sauce?
Yes! Fresh basil adds a delicious herby flavor to the spaghetti sauce. Do note that fresh basil tends to lose some of its flavor the longer it cooks, so it’s best to add it towards the end of the cooking. Also, dried basil is a stronger substitute. Start by adding only half the amount of dried basil then adjust accordingly.
What goes well with tomato and basil?
The fresh taste of tomato and basil blends well with creamy fresh mozzarella, just like how these three are a perfect match in caprese salad. Also, tomato and basil taste great as seasoning ingredients for chicken, fish, and beans. So feel free to add any of these to your take on this Cheesecake Factory pasta.
Conclusion
Surely, it’ll be even more special when you make tomato basil pasta by Cheesecake Factory right from your own kitchen. You have the freedom to add your favorite ingredients, make it cheesy or spicy if you like, and tweak it according to how you like it.Have your own special recipe to share? Submit Your Recipe Today!
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