Caprese Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Tomato, mozzarella, and basil pasta tossed in balsamic dressing for a fresh Italian side.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 8.8 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)

→ Vegetables & Cheese

02 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 7 oz fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini), halved
04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a colander and rinse briefly under cold running water to halt cooking and cool the pasta completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the dressing is well emulsified.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, halved mozzarella balls, thinly sliced red onion, and torn basil leaves to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly until every component is evenly coated.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for a chilled version. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The balsamic dressing seeps into every pasta crevice and tastes even better after a short rest in the fridge.
  • It scales effortlessly from a quick weekday lunch to a potluck centerpiece that disappears first.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the pasta because residual heat will melt the mozzarella into sad little puddles.
  • Halving the tomatoes and mozzarella is worth the extra minute because whole balls slide off the fork at every picnic I have ever attended.
03 -
  • Cook the pasta one minute less than the package says because it continues softening as it sits in the dressing.
  • Assemble everything except the basil ahead of time and fold the leaves in right before serving to keep them bright and fragrant.

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