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Splash of Taste – Vegetarian Recipes

Splash of Taste - Vegetarian Recipes

Easy veggie recipes

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Home / Vegetarian

Caprese pasta salad

Published October 3, 2021 | Updated November 19, 2022 | By Mandy & Jane

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Sweet cherry tomatoes, delicious fresh mozzarella balls, fresh slithers of basil leaves, and pasta, all tossed in a delicious balsamic vinaigrette – what’s not to love? We love making our Caprese pasta salad, it’s quick, it’s easy and it tastes SO good!

A bowl of freshly made Caprese pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, pasta and fresh basil.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s super quick to make, it’s ready as soon as you’ve cooked your pasta.
  • You can make it a day ahead, which means it’s great to serve as a side dish at a party or BBQ.
  • It’s flexible and can be eaten as a main meal or a side dish.
  • All of the ingredients are 100% vegetarian.

What’s in a Caprese pasta salad?

In our Caprese salad, we have fusilli pasta, mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, a delicious balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and a balsamic glaze garnish.

Ingredients for making a Caprese pasta salad from scratch, fresh basil, mozzarella balls, fusilli pasta, balsamic vinaigrette and cherry tomatoes.

What does Caprese mean?

The traditional Caprese salad comes from the Island of Capri which is on the Amalfi coast in Italy, and this is where we first tasted this delicious Italian salad.

It’s a combination of slices, sliced mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil and it has a delicious Italian dressing drizzled over it, usually a balsamic vinaigrette.

We’ve taken the essence of Caprese and made it our own dish and it’s now one of our favorite pasta salads.!

Our Caprese pasta salad is a real crowd pleaser. Sweet, fresh, cheesy, and filling, it’s always the first bowl to be emptied at family parties.

What type of pasta should I use?

Most short pasta will be great in a Caprese pasta salad.

We’ve used fusilli, but you could use fusilli, ziti, or rigatoni, just use what you have in your store cupboard.

Close up of freshly made Caprese pasta salad.

What type of mozzarella should I use?

For our pasta salad, it must be fresh mozzarella.

Mozzarella balls are perfect, they are small, tender and taste mellow, pearl mozzarella balls are the perfect size but if you can’t find them, then just dice a mozzarella instead.

Do I have to cook the tomatoes for this pasta salad?

We’ve designed this pasta recipe for ease and speed, so you don’t need to cook your tomatoes.

However, cooking the tomatoes would be a tasty alternative to raw tomatoes.

We recommend cooking them gently until they have just started to burst out of their skins, and when tossing your salad, do so gently so they don’t get too mushy.

A bowl of tasty Caprese pasta salad and tomatoes on a vine.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes, you most certainly can!

Assemble the salad, then drizzle a small amount of dressing on it, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Your Caprese pasta salad will keep for up to 4 days and the leftovers make great lunches or snacks.

Do I have to use balsamic glaze?

No, you don’t have to use balsamic glaze on your pasta salad, it’s not essential to the recipe.

However, it does add an intense tangy, sweet flavor to the dish and it’s got a wonderful deep color to it, it’s the finishing touches to a delicious salad!

Or why not make a vinaigrette?

With just olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic, you can make our awesome balsamic vinaigrette.

Recipe tips and notes

  • Tomatoes
    We’ve used sweet cherry tomatoes, but you could also use grape tomatoes, just make sure they are lovely fresh tomatoes.
  • Making our Caprese pasta salad ahead?
    Just add a little olive oil and toss it before serving, leave adding the fresh basil ribbons until around 30 minutes before serving, this way they will remain fresh and won’t wilt.
  • Is your salad looking too watery?
    Don’t worry, just leave the pasta salad in the fridge for 30 minutes and you’ll see that the pasta will absorb the vinaigrette.
  • Want more flavor?
    Add a little Italian seasoning.
  • Add a little crunch
    Try scattering toasted pine nuts over the salad to give a nutty crunch to it.
Close up of delicious homemade Caprese pasta salad.

More easy pasta recipes for you to try

If you like pasta dishes, then you should check out these easy recipes.

  • Pesto pasta
  • Spaghetti cacio e pepe
  • Pasta alla Norma
  • Spaghetti marinara
  • Gigi Hadid pasta

And these delicious recipes tortellini pasta salad and peach Caprese salad.

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Pesto pasta recipe

pasta à la norma with eggplants.

Pasta alla Norma recipe

A bowl of spaghetti marinara with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Spaghetti marinara recipe

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How to make Caprese pasta salad with step-by-step instructions

Our Caprese pasta salad recipe is so easy, let us show you how to make it.

First, you’ll need to cook your pasta.

Place your pasta in a pan of salted water and cook (see packet instructions for how long to cook your pasta for).

Be careful that you don’t overcook your pasta, you want it to be al dente.

When the pasta has cooked, immediately drain it and set it aside.

Meanwhile, while your pasta is cooking, drain your mozzarella balls and, depending on their size, cut them in half and add them to a large bowl.

Pasta, mozzarella balls, and cherry tomatoes in a bowl.
Add fresh mozzarella balls, cherry or grape tomatoes, and fusilli pasta to a bowl.
Pasta, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
Then add balsamic vinaigrette, salt, black pepper, and basil ribbons, then toss to evenly combine.

Now, slice your cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the bowl.

Next to go in is your cooked pasta, toss it to ensure that all the ingredients are combined.

Now add your balsamic vinaigrette, drizzle it over your Caprese pasta salad, so that it’s evenly coated.

Then cut your fresh basil leaves into ribbons, add them to the bowl and then toss your pasta salad once more.

Finally, garnish balsamic glaze.

Either serve immediately or leave at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate.

The perfect Caprese pasta salad – enjoy!

A bowl of homemade delicious Caprese pasta salad with salad servers and balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

We hope you enjoy making and eating our best Caprese pasta salad and would love to hear how you got on with making it.

Please leave a comment below and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, for more tasty inspiration!

Homemade Caprese pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, basil and fusilli pasta.
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EASY CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Easy Caprese pasta with sweet tomatoes, mozzarella balls & plenty of fresh basil. This is the taste of summer, eat as a main meal or side dish, perfect for family parties, BBQs, and celebrations. Make ahead and store in the fridge. Eat leftovers as lunch the following day.
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time15 mins
Servings6
Calories288
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste
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Ingredients

  • 8 oz Pasta
  • 9 oz Mozzarella balls
  • 8 oz Cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinaigrette
  • 3 tbsp Fresh basil cut into ribbons/slivers
  • Balsamic glaze to garnish – optional
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • First, you'll need to cook your pasta. Place your pasta in a pan of salted water and cook (see packet instructions for how long to cook your pasta for). Be careful that you don't overcook your pasta, you want it to be al dente. When the pasta has cooked, immediately drain it and set it aside
    8 oz Pasta
  • Meanwhile, while your pasta is cooking, drain your mozzarella balls and, depending on their size, cut them in half and add them to a large bowl. Now, slice your cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the bowl. Next to go in is your cooked pasta, toss it to ensure that all the ingredients are combined
    9 oz Mozzarella balls, 8 oz Cherry tomatoes
  • Now add your balsamic vinaigrette, drizzle it over your Caprese pasta salad, so that it's evenly coated. Then cut your basil leaves into ribbons, add them to the bowl and then toss your pasta salad once more. Finally, garnish balsamic glaze
    2 tbsp Balsamic vinaigrette, 3 tbsp Fresh basil, Balsamic glaze
  • Either serve immediately or leave at room temperature for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to marinate
  • The perfect Caprese pasta salad – enjoy!

Notes

  • Making our Caprese pasta salad ahead?
    Leave adding the fresh basil ribbons until around 30 minutes before serving, this way they will remain fresh and won’t wilt
  • Is your salad looking too watery?
    Don’t worry, just leave the pasta salad in the fridge for 30 minutes and you’ll see that the pasta will absorb the vinaigrette
  • Want more flavor?
    Add more vinaigrette and basil ribbons!
  • Add a little crunch
    Try scattering toasted pine nuts over the salad to give a nutty crunch to it

Nutrition

Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 535IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 186mg | Iron: 1mg

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.

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About Mandy

A vegetarian for over 35 years, Mandy has taught herself to be creative in the kitchen. Traveling extensively, Mandy loves learning and adapting vegetarian recipes from across the world. Read more...

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  1. lynn polito says

    October 3, 2021 at 5:30 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! I love caprese salad, and with pasta? Sign me up!!

    Reply
  2. Cindy says

    October 3, 2021 at 11:41 pm

    5 stars
    This has all the flavors I love best. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
  3. Jennifer says

    October 4, 2021 at 12:44 pm

    5 stars
    I love this easy pasta dish! I’m a sucker for fresh tomatoes and the flavors of this dish are simply wow!

    Reply
  4. Sherry says

    October 5, 2021 at 3:23 am

    5 stars
    I made this caprese pasta salad for my daughters team dinner and got rave reviews!! And many requests for the recipe!!

    Reply
  5. laura says

    October 5, 2021 at 5:45 pm

    5 stars
    The PERFECT salad! We had it as a side to sandwiches and everyone loved it!

    Reply
  6. Donna says

    October 5, 2021 at 8:26 pm

    5 stars
    This was perfect to bring along to a picnic, easy and delicious and packs well!

    Reply
  7. Sachiko says

    October 10, 2021 at 10:44 pm

    5 stars
    I made this with spaghetti squash!

    Reply

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