Posted Jul 28, 2024 If you’re looking for a delicious way to use the abundance of fresh summer tomatoes and basil available right now – I suggest making this caprese pasta salad. In this recipe, pasta is combined with mozzarella cheese, onions, tomatoes, and basil and then tossed in a delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The result is a light and fresh pasta salad with all the best flavors of the season. This caprese pasta salad recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare (most of which is waiting for water to boil and pasta to cook), then it chills in the refrigerator, making it a perfect dish to prepare in advance for a pot luck or barbecue.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Pasta. I love fusilli pasta, but any shape or variety works well. My top recommendations are fusilli, penne, farfalle (bowties), gemelli, and rotelle (wheels). Green Onion. red, white or yellow onions (finely diced) are good substitutes. Baby Tomatoes. substitute your favorite tomato variety including heirloom, Roma, etc. Avocado. I love the creaminess avocado adds to this salad, you can omit it if desired. Mozzarella cheese. use fresh mozzarella for the best results. Fresh basil. There are no substitutes for fresh basil in this recipe – it’s a must! Olive oil. Avocado oil is a great substitute if you don’t have olive oil. Dijon Mustard. choose your favorite mustard. Balsamic vinegar. use a high-quality balsamic vinegar. It should be thick and naturally sweet and our like molasses (not watery).
How to Make Caprese Pasta Salad
Let’s walk through this recipe step-by-step, and be sure to watch the video! Begin by cooking the pasta in salted water according to package instructions. When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it in a colander but do not rinse it with water. Then, make the dressing by whisking the ingredients together in a small bowl. Next, transfer the cooked pasta to a large bowl (preferably one with a lid), add half the dressing and stir to combine. Chill the pasta in the refrigerator until they cool to at least room temperature. Once the pasta has cooled, add green onion, tomatoes, fresh basil, parmesan cheese, mozzarella and the remaining dressing and stir to combine. Taste and add salt and pepper as desired. Then, cover the bowl and chill the caprese pasta salad for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Serve
When you’re ready to serve, top with extra parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil. Then, serve the caprese pasta salad recipe cold with your favorite mains and sides here are some suggestions:
It pairs well with bruschetta chicken and baked pesto chicken. Serve it as a side with your favorite grilling recipes like hamburgers and grilled BBQ chicken. Add it to the list of delicious Italian-inspired recipes like bruschetta, panzanella salad and tiramisu.
Store
Store leftover caprese pasta salad in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
