Caprese Pasta Salad

Name: Caprese Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 17 servings
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta; 3 large heirloom tomatoes (about 2 pounds), seeded and chopped; 3/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves, chopped; 1/3 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 1 shallot, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 teaspoon sugar; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Total Time Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Yield 17 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

Our Caprese pasta salad is a simple summertime recipe that packs a fresh, flavorful punch.

Ingredients

1 package (16 ounces) penne pasta
3 large heirloom tomatoes (about 2 pounds), seeded and chopped
3/4 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup loosely packed basil leaves, chopped
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl. Gently stir in the tomatoes, cheese and basil.
In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 203 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 136mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.

This easy Caprese pasta salad is always a favorite, especially when summer tomatoes are at their peak. It comes together quickly, but if you can make it ahead of time, the flavors seem to get better after it's chilled for a few hours. —Debby Harden, Lansing, Michigan

Recipe Creator