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Everyone loves my Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe! But, I needed something for the vegetarians too, don’t you think? I mean sure, they could just omit the pepperoni from my most popular pasta salad dish, but where’s the fun in that? I absolutely love caprese salads. There’s something so delightfully simple about it. Tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil.. what could be better? I’ll tell you: Caprese Pasta Salad!
how my caprese pasta salad came to be:
Every summer, Eric and I are lucky enough to take a vacation, normally leaving the last week of June and returning around July 13th or so. We’ve been fortunate enough to go to France and Italy (both twice), Mexico, and Turkey together. We had big travel plans for 2020 and 2021, but those got cancelled due to covid. However, two weeks ago we were lucky enough to spend some time at Eric’s family’s cottage down in Plymouth- a short 45 minute drive from our home. We took Duck and Goose, packed up the car, and headed down for a week on the water.
I had big plans for this trip. I was going to make and document eighteen new recipes.. Now I laugh now that I thought it would happen this way. Well, although I didn’t make eighteen different recipes during that vacation, I did make this Caprese Pasta Salad! Overall, it’s herbaceous, lemony, and perfectly light for summertime! PLUS it’s vegetarian-friendly!
Anyway, breaking down the components of these Sweet Potato Kale Bowls and why they work.. I think it’s all about the flavors here. For instance, I use lemon juice, Italian seasoning blend, fresh basil.. it’s perfect! I think this Caprese Pasta Salad gets better the longer you let it marinate in the fridge. Trust me, make this dish the day before you are serving it, and it will be perfect!
What you need to make seasoned and salted’s caprese pasta salad:
- pasta
- mozzarella
- tomatoes
- basil
- Italian seasoning blend
- lemon juice
- extra virgin olive oil
- lemon zest
- salt
- pepper
- parmesan cheese
Enjoy, and as always, please let me know if you make this recipe – and if you do, don’t forget to tag @seasonedandsalted and #seasonedandsalted on Instagram!
Ingredients
For the Pasta Salad
- 1 lb cooked pasta
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1.5 cups fresh basil you can keep the leaves whole or chop/tear them
- 1 lb fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tbsp Italian seasoning blend
For the Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- juice of 1 lemon
- zest of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the dressing ( 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, zest and juice of 1 lemon) in a small bowl. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the remaining pasta salad ingredients. Next, pour in the dressing. toss to combine, until the pasta salad is coated evenly with dressing. Cover the bowl with a lid or wrap and allow it to marinate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight) in the fridge.
I made this for our post pandemic housewarming/three graduations/seven birthday celebration party! Everyone loved it, my mother in law is also going to make it for friends! It’s such a great “summer tasting” salad. I am historically not a big pasta salad person, but this is going into my regular recipe rotation. Amazing as a meal in itself, but we also had grilled chicken.
Thank you so much, Jocelyn! I’m glad that your family enjoyed it. Happy summer!