Fresh Caprese Salad Pasta (Printer version)

Fresh pasta with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil. A light, vibrant Italian-inspired dish ready in under 25 minutes.

# What You'll 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
06 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, optional
08 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste
09 - Salt to taste

# Directions:

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 an Italian kitchen.
  • The ingredients are so simple that even wilted basil or slightly sad tomatoes somehow pull through beautifully.
  • You can serve it warm right after tossing or let it chill into a cold pasta salad that gets better as it sits.
  • It feels fancy enough for guests but requires almost zero actual cooking skill.
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta under cold water isn't just about cooling it down, it stops the cooking process and washes away excess starch that would make the salad gummy and clumpy.
  • Don't toss the pasta while it's still hot unless you want melted mozzarella soup, let it cool for a few minutes so the cheese stays in perfect little pearls.
  • If your tomatoes aren't super ripe and juicy, add an extra tablespoon of olive oil or a squeeze of lemon juice to make up for the missing brightness.
03 -
  • Reserve a splash of the pasta cooking water before draining, if the salad feels dry after tossing, a tablespoon or two of that starchy water will bring everything together like magic.
  • For an even more luxurious version, toss in a handful of toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds right before serving for crunch and richness.
  • If you want to make this feel more like a full meal, serve it alongside grilled chicken or shrimp, but honestly it's hearty enough on its own.
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