Caprese Pasta Salad – a delicious pasta salad with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. Perfect for the lunchbox, picnics or your next barbeque, this Labor Day weekend or any time.
Caprese salad, the classic combination of tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, is a staple at our house during the summer. We love it in all formats. I thought the flavors would go nicely in a pasta salad and that certainly is the case.
I tossed together fresh cherry tomatoes, basil and cubes of mozzarella along with penne pasta in a fresh garlicky balsamic vinaigrette. The resulting pasta salad is so fresh, delicious and full of flavor.
This summer, we’ve been making a lot of tomato, basil and mozzarella salads, including this Caprese Pasta Salad. We’ve been the lucky recipients of lots of fresh tomatoes and basil, from our Vermont neighbors’ bountiful garden, plus we’ve started making are own mozzarella cheese.
Make Your Own Mozzarella Cheese
Earlier this summer, my husband purchased a {affiliate link} Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheese Making Kit
The kit provides everything you need to make cheese, you just need to buy the milk. One gallon of milk makes 1 pound of cheese (the kit provides supplies to make 30 lbs of cheese), it only takes about 30 minutes, is a lot of fun and the resulting cheese is absolutely delicious.
This fresh and flavorful Caprese Pasta Salad is great for a portable lunch. We’ve been enjoying it on the boat, it is also great for picnics or in the lunchbox.
This delicious pasta salad is also a wonderful accompaniment to also sorts of grilled entrees. It would also be the perfect addition to your next barbeque this Labor Day weekend or anytime.
So, tell me, have you ever made your own cheese? Let me know in the comments below!
Caprese Pasta Salad - a delicious pasta salad with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese, perfect for the lunchbox, picnics or your next barbeque.
Ingredients
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from ~ ½ lemon)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic (from ~ 1 clove)
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup chopped basil leaves, packed
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups mozzarella, cut into ½ inch cubes
- salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta to al dente, according to package directions, set aside to cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
- Add cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add in basil, tomatoes and mozzarella. Pour dressing over mixture and toss to combine.
- Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.
- Serve pasta salad or refrigerate (see notes).
Notes
Basil tends to lose its bright green color a few hours after it is chopped. If you plan to make this pasta salad ahead of time, prepare the pasta salad, adding all ingredients except the basil and refrigerate. Before serving, chop basil and add to salad, tossing again to combine.
Hello Labor Day Lunch!!! Love this colorful vibrant salad!
YES to all the caprese especially when it is added to pasta – another family favorite
heather @french press recently posted…the best sandwich loaf + an old-school BLT
Looks fantastic perfect summer flavors!
Florian @ContentednessCooking recently posted…3 Ingredient Snack Balls
Caprese anything is my favourite so I would die for this right now! It looks so good!
Kacey @ The Cookie Writer recently posted…Starburst Candy Shot Glasses
The flavors in a caprese are among my favorite flavors so I love this version of a pasta salad!
christine recently posted…No Boil Baked Tortellini
I just came back from lunch and enjoyed a caprese sandwich which I love so I know I will totally enjoy this caprese pasta! Looks so yum!
Is there any way you might drop a bowl of this in front of me right now??? It looks amazing, thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Ashleigh recently posted…10-Minute Thin and Crispy Honey Mustard Chicken Strips
This is going to be my dinner tomorrow night. LOVE the combination of flavors.
Healing Tomato recently posted…Vegan Meatloaf Using Mezzetta Pasta Sauces
Love the freshness of this but honestly it’s those chunks of mozzarella cheese screaming out to me.
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist recently posted…Shout® and Garden Tomato Sauce
What a yummy pasta salad – love it, so easy and great flavors!!!
Debra @ Bowl Me Over recently posted…Rainbow Fruit Salad
Beautiful salad that is great for BBQs, picnics, etc
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets) recently posted…Hatch Chile Hummus
I will be making this! Looks fantastic!
What a delicious looking dish I want some LOL
Have a pastatastic week 🙂
stevebethere recently posted…WW On A Tuesday – Important
Yum! This sounds great, and I love the basil tip.
Rhonda Albom recently posted…Lightning Over Jbel Kissane, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Looks luscious.
Thanks for linking up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/09/allium-glorious.html
Wow, what’s not to like about that salad! Outstanding set of images as well.
Driller’s Place recently posted…Flea Market Fun
Joy,
Looks really good!
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble recently posted…A Garden Tub Transformation!!
Mom has made her own yogurt and thinks she may have made her own cheese many years ago but is too old to remember that far back! She loves caprese salad and has tons of tomatoes from the garden but often doesn’t have the mozzarella cheese. The cheese-making kit just may be the ticket.
Christy Paws recently posted…Window Washing on Mo Cats Day
This looks delicious! Wish I had a bowl in front of me now.
Denise Wright recently posted…Tomato Jam With Carmelized Onions and Bacon
What a beautiful salad! Making this next week!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…Chicken Enchiladas with Southwestern Molé Sauce
I was actually doing pasta this morning as I have cherry tomatoes from my plant! Looks like a lovely dish =)
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…My Sunday Photo – 06 September 2015
This looks like the perfect end of summer salad! Thanks for sharing on the Full Plate Thursday link up 🙂
Easy Peasy Life Matters recently posted…Quick and Easy All in One Breakfast
I love this sooo much you will be featured!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday…hope to see you again this week!! Pinned!
Elaine recently posted…Rainbow Themed 1st Birthday Party!
This looks fantastic, we will love it! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Miz Helen recently posted…Buttermilk Jalapeno Scones