
0 from 15 votes
Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese Pasta Salad is simple, full of good nutritious ingredients, and tastes even better than it looks! The flavors meld together into a refreshing and pure pasta salad. It keeps very well chilled in the fridge.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
28 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 474 kcal
Course:
Side Dish , Salad
Cuisine:
Italian-American Fussion
Ingredients
For the Basil Pesto:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves packed
- 2 cups flat parsley leaves
- ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil plus extra for sprinkling
- ½ cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 whole shallot chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt plus more to taste
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste
For the Pasta Salad:
- 1 lb dry fusilli pasta or rotini
- 8 oz mini mozzarella balls or "pearl" mozzarella balls, halved
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes or grape, seeded and halved
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped green olives with pimientos
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the basil, parsley, olive oil, vinegar, shallot, garlic, salt, pepper. Pulse until finely chopped. Add more kosher salt and fresh black pepper to taste. Set aside or wrap tightly and chill until ready to use.
- In a large heavy pot, bring well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta just until al dente, according to instructions, taking care not to cook past that.
- Drain fully but do not rinse. Transfer to a large serving bowl and sprinkle with a bit of olive oil, tossing so pasta is thinly coated. Let pasta cool to room temperature.
- When ready to serve, toss in the mozzarella halves, tomato halves, and optional olives, if using them.
- Add basil pesto and continue to lightly toss until well combined. Leftovers may be covered and chilled up to 3 days.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you!
- Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week!
- If making this dish in advance, we suggest keeping pasta and sauce in separate containers until ready to toss and serve.
- Note that the basil pesto may dull somewhat in color after 24 hours, but flavor remains the same.
- For gluten-free version, use your favorite gluten-free rotini style pasta.
- Serve with an extra sprinkle of Balsamic Glaze and Juicy Grilled Chicken Breast.
Nutrition Information
Calories
474kcal
(24%)
Carbohydrates
49g
(16%)
Protein
14g
(28%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
13g
Cholesterol
10mg
(3%)
Sodium
334mg
(14%)
Potassium
381mg
(11%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
6g
(12%)
Vitamin A
1.871IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
35mg
(39%)
Calcium
158mg
(16%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 474
% Daily Value*
Calories | 474kcal | 24% |
Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
Protein | 14g | 28% |
Fat | 25g | 38% |
Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
Monounsaturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
Cholesterol | 10mg | 3% |
Sodium | 334mg | 14% |
Potassium | 381mg | 8% |
Fiber | 3g | 12% |
Sugar | 6g | 12% |
Vitamin A | 1.871IU | 0% |
Vitamin C | 35mg | 39% |
Calcium | 158mg | 16% |
Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.