Caprese Pasta Salad (Print)

Fresh Italian pasta with tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic dressing in 25 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
07 - 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
08 - 1 clove garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
10 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

# How-To Steps:

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 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 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 until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Taste the salad and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours and serve chilled. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The balsamic dressing soaks into every twist and fold of the pasta, making each bite more flavorful than the last.
  • It comes together in the time it takes to boil water and drain noodles, which is basically a magic trick for something this pretty.
  • No cooking beyond the pasta itself, so your kitchen stays cool even on the hottest afternoons.
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta is essential here even though Italian grandmothers would disapprove, because you need to cool it fast and remove excess starch that would make the dressing gummy.
  • Do not assemble this more than two hours ahead because the tomatoes will weep and the basil will darken, turning vibrant into tired.
  • If you must make it ahead, prepare the dressing and pasta separately and combine everything within an hour of serving for the freshest result.
03 -
  • Halve the tomatoes and mozzarella first and let them sit in the dressing for five minutes before adding the pasta so they start absorbing flavor from the inside out.
  • If your basil is looking wilted, plunge it into ice water for thirty seconds and watch it perk back up to full, fragrant life before tearing it over the salad.

Go Back