Description
This Caprese Pasta Salad features chew cavatappi pasta, fresh mozzarella, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant basil. Easy to prepare, it’s perfect for a quick dinner or a healthy side dish that everyone will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound cavatappi pasta
- 16 ounces mozzarella pearls or ciliegine
- 2 pints grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
- ½ cups fresh basil
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Boil water in a large pot, adding one tablespoon of salt. Cook the pasta until al-dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
- Halve the tomatoes and place them in a large bowl.
- Add the mozzarella pearls and julienned basil to the bowl with tomatoes.
- In a small jar or measuring cup, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Once the pasta is cool, add it into the large bowl with the tomatoes and mozzarella.
- Drizzle half of the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Adjust with more dressing if needed.
- Store any leftover dressing to refresh the pasta salad later, as the pasta absorbs the dressing over time.
- Serve immediately!
Notes
Feel free to add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta instead of cavatappi.
You can enjoy this dish cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg