Revitalizing Caprese Pasta Salad Delight

This Caprese Pasta Salad is filled with well-cooked pasta, sweet cherry tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella cheese. It serves as a light and tasty side that complements any meal during this season.

If you’re a fan of caprese flavors, you might also enjoy this Caprese Sandwich and Chicken Caprese dish.

Recipe Information

This vibrant Caprese Pasta Salad is a burst of flavor. The combination of fresh ingredients, varying textures, and easy preparation makes it a favorite in my recipe collection.

• FLAVOR: The salad offers a deliciously tangy, rich, and herbal taste, thanks to fresh garlic and basil mixed with a sweet-tart vinegar.
• TEXTURE: Creamy mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and al dente pasta create a delightful experience in every bite.
• TIME: You can whip this dish up in approximately 15 minutes.
• EASE: The preparation is straightforward, particularly if you cook the pasta in advance.

Ingredients Required

Notes on Ingredients

• Pasta: Opt for smaller pasta varieties such as gemelli, rotini, or cavatelli.
• Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes provide the perfect amount of sweetness for the salad.
• Mozzarella: Fresh pearl mozzarella is ideally sized for this dish.
• Balsamic vinegar: This ingredient adds a delightful sweet and tangy note.
• Basil: For the best flavor, use fresh basil.
• Balsamic glaze: While optional, this sweet glaze enhances the overall flavor of the salad.

Extra Ingredients and Substitutions

• Make it gluten-free: Use a gluten-free pasta, like penne.
• Swap the tomatoes: Consider using diced beefsteak or plum tomatoes, or even grape tomatoes.
• Different mozzarella: While pearl mozzarella is preferable, you can also cut a block of fresh mozzarella into cubes for this salad.

Steps to Prepare Caprese Pasta Salad

• Mix the dressing ingredients: In a bowl, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and minced garlic.
• Whisk well: Blend all the dressing components thoroughly until combined, then set aside.

• Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the dry pasta. Cook until it reaches al dente.
• Rinse the cooked pasta. After cooking, drain the pasta using a colander and rinse it under cold water.
• Combine salad ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with mozzarella pearls, sliced tomatoes, and chopped basil.
• Mix. Toss all the ingredients well and then drizzle with a bit of balsamic glaze for extra sweetness.

Pro Tip: Rinsing the pasta with cold water helps stop the cooking process and keeps it from becoming mushy.

Helpful Cooking Tips

• Use fresh ingredients: Fresh garlic and basil considerably improve the salad’s flavor.
• Salt the pasta water: Adding salt to the water allows the pasta to absorb more flavor as it cooks, enhancing the overall taste.
• Cook the pasta al dente: To avoid mushy pasta, rinse it with cold water after cooking to stop the cooking process before combining it with cheese and tomatoes.
• Add the balsamic glaze: This essential component adds a delightful sweet and tangy flavor to the salad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Caprese pasta salad mainly features short pasta, paired with fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes, dressed with balsamic vinegar.

Caprese salad pairs excellently with various breads like focaccia, or pasta dishes such as chicken stuffed shells. It also complements meats like air fryer pork tenderloin.