This caprese pasta salad is a recent and flavorful summer time facet made with pasta, juicy tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and a easy balsamic dressing. Excellent for potlucks, BBQs, or a light-weight lunch!
Caprese salad is a kind of timeless combos I by no means get bored with, and turning it right into a pasta salad? Sport changer. This caprese pasta salad has all of the necessities! Juicy cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, recent basil, tossed with rotini and coated in a light-weight balsamic dressing that ties all the pieces collectively.
In the event you’re into summery pasta salads like my pesto pasta salad or Greek pasta salad, you’ll love this one too. It’s recent, tremendous straightforward to prep forward, and at all times a crowd-pleaser at cookouts or potlucks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
In the event you want a go-to pasta salad for heat climate gatherings, right here’s why this one belongs in your checklist:
- Brilliant and flavorful – Contemporary basil, candy tomatoes, and a tangy balsamic French dressing make each chunk pop.
- Fast and simple – Simply prepare dinner the pasta, toss all the pieces collectively, and chill.
- Make-ahead pleasant – It tastes even higher after the flavors have a little bit time to meld.
- Naturally vegetarian – An ideal choice for mixed-diet teams.
- Excellent for any event – Serve it at cookouts, picnics, or as a meal prep facet.
Elements Wanted
You solely want just a few recent, flavorful components to carry this summery pasta salad collectively:
- rotini pasta – I really like how the twists of rotini maintain onto all of the dressing and little bits of basil. Be at liberty to make use of one other brief pasta form if that’s what you’ve got available.
- cherry tomatoes – juicy, candy, and the proper dimension for pasta salad. Slice them in half or quarter them in the event that they’re on the larger facet.
- mozzarella balls – creamy and comfortable, these little bocconcini add richness to each chunk. I like halving them so that they go a little bit additional.
- child arugula or spinach – provides a pop of inexperienced and a little bit peppery chunk. Both works nice right here.
- recent basil – that is what provides the salad that signature Caprese really feel. Chop it up simply earlier than including so it stays good and vibrant.
- sea salt and black pepper – season to style to carry all of the flavors to life.
- dressing – we’re utilizing a easy do-it-yourself dressing made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, dijon mustard, and garlic. It’s fast to mix and provides a lot taste.
Substitutions
- Pasta: I used rotini, however any brief pasta works effectively right here. Strive bowties, penne, and even chickpea pasta for a gluten-free, protein-packed twist.
- Dressing: This balsamic French dressing is easy and recent, however should you’re brief on time you should use a store-bought model. Simply search for one with minimal components and no added sugar. Primal Kitchen or Tessemae’s are nice choices.
How you can Make Caprese Pasta Salad
Step 1: Add all of the dressing components to a blender and mix till easy and mixed.
Step 2: Cook dinner the pasta in keeping with the package deal directions till al dente. Drain and switch to a big mixing bowl to chill barely.
Step 3: As soon as the pasta has cooled, add the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, arugula, and recent basil to the bowl.
Step 4: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to mix. Style and season with further salt and pepper, if wanted.
Brittany’s Recipe Suggestions!
Just some ideas to assist your caprese pasta salad prove completely each time:
- Cook dinner your pasta good: Go for al dente so it doesn’t flip to mush as soon as it’s dressed and chilled. I at all times style a chunk earlier than draining. If it’s agency however tender, you’re good to go.
- Salt your pasta water: That is your one probability to season the pasta itself. I’m speaking a beneficiant pinch right here, don’t skip it!
- Add the basil simply earlier than serving: Contemporary basil bruises simply, so I wish to tear it up and toss it in proper on the finish to maintain it vibrant and aromatic.
Serving Strategies
This caprese pasta salad works for all the pieces from yard BBQs to weekday lunches. I really like serving it as a refreshing facet for summer time meals or bulking it up with protein to show it right into a full meal.
How you can Retailer
This caprese pasta salad is finest loved recent, however it additionally shops effectively. Simply place any leftovers in an hermetic container and refrigerate for as much as 3 days. If you realize you’ll be storing it, wait so as to add the basil and cheese till simply earlier than serving to maintain all the pieces vibrant and recent.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Sure! This recipe is nice for meal prep. Simply prep all the pieces a day upfront and retailer it within the fridge. For the perfect texture and presentation, stir within the mozzarella balls and recent basil proper earlier than serving.
Quick pasta shapes like rotini, fusilli, or bowties work finest as a result of they maintain the dressing and mix-ins effectively. Complete wheat or gluten-free pasta will also be used—simply make sure you prepare dinner it al dente so it doesn’t get mushy after sitting.
It’s meant to be served chilly or at room temperature. In the event you’ve simply cooked the pasta, be sure that it’s absolutely cooled earlier than tossing with the opposite components to maintain the cheese from melting.
Extra Pasta Salad Recipes
Be sure you take a look at the entire pasta salad recipes in addition to the total assortment of salad recipes on EBF!
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