Fresh Caprese Salad Pasta (Printable Version)

A fresh and vibrant pasta creation featuring juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella pearls, and fragrant basil tossed with al dente pasta.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz short pasta such as penne, fusilli, or farfalle
02 - Salt for pasta water

→ Salad

03 - 9 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 7 oz mozzarella pearls, drained
05 - 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, optional
08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
09 - Salt to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse briefly under cold water to cool, and set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil leaves.
03 - Add the cooled pasta to the bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss gently to combine.
04 - Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. If desired, drizzle with balsamic glaze.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra basil if desired, or chill for 20 to 30 minutes for a cold pasta salad.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than ordering takeout and tastes like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • The pasta stays light and refreshing even though it's filling enough to be a real meal.
  • You can serve it warm right away or let it chill into the perfect make ahead lunch.
  • Every bite tastes like summer no matter what the weather is doing outside.
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water is essential here; it stops the carry over cooking and keeps the mozzarella from turning into a melted mess.
  • Don't skip salting the pasta water generously, because this is your only chance to season the pasta from the inside out.
  • Toss everything gently or you'll end up with crushed tomatoes and broken mozzarella instead of a pretty, composed salad.
03 -
  • Buy the ripest, sweetest tomatoes you can find; their juice becomes the soul of this dish and there's nowhere to hide bland produce.
  • Warm pasta and cold mozzarella create the perfect temperature contrast, so don't overdress the pasta while it's still hot or you'll lose that magic.
  • Tearing basil by hand instead of slicing it with a knife prevents bruising and keeps the leaves vibrant and green longer.
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