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1
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil and add the pasta.
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2
Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes, or until al dente.
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3
Drain the pasta in a colander and keep warm.
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4
Meanwhile, peel the garlic and finely chop.
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5
Cut the tomatoes in quarters, remove and discard the stems and seeds, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
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6
Remove and discard the stems from the basil leaves and roughly chop so most of the pieces are 1/4 inch or less.
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7
Break the mozzarella into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces.
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8
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan and add the tomatoes and garlic.
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9
Cook, stirring frequently for 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes are warmed through.
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10
Add the basil and stir until combined.
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11
Remove from the heat and stir in the hot pasta.
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12
Season with salt and pepper, stir in the mozzarella cheese, and serve immediately.
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13
Fresh mozzarella cheese is delicious, but it can also be expensive.
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14
If your budget is tight, use shredded mozzarella cheese.
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15
It costs about half as much as fresh mozzarella and your pasta will still taste great.
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16
But, dont even think about using dried basil instead of fresh.
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17
The fresh basil is what gives this dish its flavor, and the dried version would be a very poor substitute.
