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Caprese Pasta Salad (with Avocado!)
5 from 3 votes

Caprese Pasta Salad (with Avocado!)

This will be one of the tastiest pasta salads you've tried! It's packed with mini pasta, fresh mozzarella pears, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh avocados and a tasty balsamic glaze. In other words lots of fresh exciting flavors here!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 7 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Pasta salad
  • 10 oz. mini penne pasta 2 3/4 cups
  • black pepper freshly ground
  • salt freshly ground
  • 1 pint cherry tomato halved, or grape tomatoes
  • 2 avocado diced (they should be fairly firm but ripe, small
  • 8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls
  • 1/4 cup basil chopped, fresh leaves
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar use white balsamic vinegar for better coloring if desired, then more for serving to taste
Pesto
  • 1 cup basil 18g, slightly packed, fresh leaves
  • 1 cloves garlic peeled
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp Parmesan Cheese plus more for serving if desired, finely shredded
  • 1 Tbsp pine nuts or chopped walnuts

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to directions on package. Drain and let cool completely.
  2. In a food processor pulse 1 cup basil leaves, parmesan, pine nuts, and garlic until minced. Pour in olive oil and process until everything is finely minced. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Add pasta and tomatoes to a salad bowl. Pour basil (pesto) mixture over pasta and tomatoes and toss to evenly coat.
  4. Add in avocados, mozzarella, basil (set some aside to garnish over top if desired), and pour in balsamic vinegar and toss just lightly. 
  5. Serve immediately with more balsamic vinegar and parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • If you can't find mozzarella pearls, you can cut up a large ball of fresh mozzarella. 
  • Fresh basil is a must in this recipe, dried cannot be substituted. 
  • Recipe source: Cooking Classy