Ingredients
– 1 pound short pasta such as fusilli, orecchiette, or penne
– 16 ounces mozzarella balls (ciliegine or pearls)
– 3 cups cherry tomatoes
– ยฝ cup slivered fresh basil
– โ cup extra virgin olive oil
– 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
– 1 teaspoon kosher salt
– 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
– 1 garlic clove, pressed or minced
Instructions
1-Bring a pot of water to a boil and season generously with kosher salt. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente, then drain and rinse lightly with cold water before setting aside to cool.
2-While the pasta cooks, drain the mozzarella balls and halve them. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place them in a mixing bowl along with the mozzarella and basil.
3-Combine the cooled pasta with the tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil in the mixing bowl.
4-In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk or shake together the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
5-Drizzle the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then let the salad rest for about 30 minutes before serving. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
๐ฟ Rinse pasta after cooking to prevent stickiness in the salad.
๐ Use golden balsamic vinegar for a milder, slightly sweeter dressing without discoloration.
๐ง Fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine) provide the best texture; halving them adds nice visual appeal and mouthfeel.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling, Tossing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 359 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 274 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 16 mg
