Description
Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad is a refreshing and vibrant dish that perfectly captures the essence of summer. With its delightful combination of ripe cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and creamy mozzarella, this pasta salad is ideal for any occasion—be it a garden party, picnic, or casual lunch. Easy to prepare in just 23 minutes, it requires minimal cooking and brings a burst of flavor to your table. This crowd-pleaser serves four but can easily be adjusted to fit your gathering size. Enjoy it chilled for the best flavor experience!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound small pasta (e.g., fusilli, orecchiette)
- 16 ounces mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
- 3 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, sliced
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil salted water in a large pot and cook the pasta until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a mixing bowl, combine mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes; add chopped basil.
- Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Add cooled pasta to the mixing bowl; pour dressing over ingredients and toss gently.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No Cooking Required
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 20mg