Try you hand at a delicious Checca Sauce Recipe that requires no cooking of the pasta sauce. Just fresh and delicious cherry tomatoes with olive oil and seasonings. Topped with freshly cubed or grated Mozzerella cheese.
No Cook Pasta Sauce – Checca Sauce Recipe with Spaghetti
Summer cherry tomatoes are the best! So fresh and delicious!
What to do when you spot that box of freshly picked cherry tomatoes at the farmer’s market? Grab a box and make this quick no cook pasta sauce.
This style of pasta can be found all over Italy in the summer, when tomatoes and basil are at their peak. An easy authentic Italian pasta dish for hot weather.
Ingredients Needed For Pasta Checca
- Spaghetti – we love thin spaghetti or Vermicelli
- Cherry Tomatoes – about 2 pints
- Scallions
- Cloves or Garlic
- Olive Oil – extra virgin olive oil
- Basil – fresh leaves
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
Summer is made for this No Cook Pasta Sauce served over a bed of spaghetti
- 1 lb. spaghetti or fusilli, angel hair, shells, etc.
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes - about 4 cups, cut in half about 4 cups, cut in half
- 8 scallions white and pale green parts only, coarsely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped, or 2 tsp. minced garlic chopped, or 2 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 oz. fresh-grated Parmesan cheese
- about 16 fresh basil leaves more if you like fresh basil
- 3 oz. extra-virgin olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of freshly-ground black pepper
- 8 oz. cubed mozzarella cheese, small cubes
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Prepare the pasta according to manufacturer's directions, being careful not to overcook. When pasta is done boiling, reserve some of the water for possible use in sauce.
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While the pasta is boiling, combine the cherry tomatoes, scallions, garlic, parmesan, basil, and olive oil in a food processor. Pulse the tomatoes until they are coarsely chopped, being careful not to puree. Set aside. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. This can also be done in a blender, but it's even more difficult to make sure the sauce doesn't puree in a blender. We want the sauce to be a bit chunky!
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When pasta is cooked, drain the pasta, put back in pan, and toss with the tomato mixture, adding the cheese cubes. (Add a bit of the water the pasta boiled in if the sauce seems a bit dry.) Serve immediately.
Can You Use Whole Tomatoes for this Checca Sauce?
Yes, you can use whole tomatoes for this sauce.
Ingredients Needed:
- 4-5 ripe, medium-sized tomatoes
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
How to Prepare The Sauce:
Prepare the Tomatoes:
Start by blanching the tomatoes to remove their skins. Bring a pot of water to a boil and make a small “X” at the bottom of each tomato using a knife. Gently drop the tomatoes into the boiling water for about 30 seconds, then transfer them to a bowl of ice water. The skins should easily peel off. Peel the tomatoes, cut them in half, and remove the seeds. Chop the remaining tomato flesh into small pieces.
Combine Ingredients:
In a bowl, combine the chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped basil leaves, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you like a bit of heat, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes as well.
Gently mix all the ingredients together to ensure they are well combined. Then, let the mixture sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour. This allows the flavors to meld and intensify.
Fresh Checca sauce is at its best when made with ripe, in-season tomatoes and high-quality olive oil. It’s a versatile and simple sauce that adds a burst of fresh flavor to a variety of dishes. Enjoy it during the summer months when tomatoes and basil are at their peak.
Try Delicious Pasta Fredda – Another great pasta dish with marinated tomatoes and olives is the simple Pasta Fredda – another great no cook meal to serve on those hot summer days!
We typically serve this with spaghetti or angle hair pasta, but the no cook sauce clings best to curly fusilli or small pasta shells, but you can use any pasta of choice and it will still taste wonderful!
A little taste of Italy right in your family kitchen! Serve this no cook sauce recipe for something different during the hot summer months!
What to Serve With Pasta Checca?
- Tossed Salad – Serve this delicious recipe with a tossed salad. Look here to see what to put in your healthy tossed salad!
- Italian Antipasto Platter – Create a fresh and delicious antipasto platter with a variety of Italian cured meats, cheeses, olives, and marinated vegetables.
- Garlic Bread – A classic choice to accompany pasta. You can make traditional garlic bread or upgrade it with herbs, cheese, or a drizzle of olive oil.
Try Some of Our Delicious Pasta Recipes:
If you love pasta dishes as much as we do, try our Easy Spaghetti Aglio and Spaghetti with Ground Beef Sauce and our Taco Spaghetti.
