Balsamic Tomato & Basil Pasta Salad

RecipesSummerSaladsPastaVegetablesPotluck

Jul 11

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This incredibly simple pasta salad combines the flavors of juicy cherry tomatoes and fresh basil with creamy mozzarella. It's a crowd pleaser and so easy to toss together in minutes! You will love this slightly sweet balsamic salad for a light lunch, side dish, or to share at a summer potluck.

why I love this pasta salad:

This salad is absolutely delicious. I love the sweet notes from the balsamic dressing and how the flaky sea salt and freshly cracked pepper taste on the fresh mozzarella pearls. It’s one of my favorite side dishes or lunches for serving in the summer when I need something filling and easy to put together!

Great Vegetarian Dish. If you are looking for a filling and delicious dish that’s vegetarian, you will love this pasta salad! It’s incredibly hearty and great for a side dish or even as a main.
Easy to Make. I love the simple ease of this recipe! There’s hardly any chopping and it comes together in about 15 to 20 minutes.
Prep Ahead of Time. You can easily make this pasta salad ahead of time if you want to serve it at a party or take with to a summer barbecue. In fact, it tastes better the longer that it sits, so I would suggest making it at leat 12 to 24 hours in advance of serving it!

gathering ingredients to make tomato & Basil pasta salad:

To make this Balsamic Tomato & Basil Pasta Salad, you will need to gather a few key ingredients. This salad is perfect to make as a summer appetizer because all of the fresh ingredients are more readily available and easy to find during the height of summer.

Balsamic Dressing. To make the balsamic dressing for this pasta salad, you will need olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Bow Tie Pasta. I think that this salad looks so pretty with bow tie or farfalle pasta, but any short cut pasta will work. Try using fusilli, cavatappi, or penne for a similar feel to farfalle!
Cherry Tomatoes. I think round cherry tomatoes look best in this dish vs grape tomatoes. Make sure that your tomatoes are not over ripe to avoid the salad becoming too juicy and soggy.
Mozzarella Pearls. Mozzarella pearls are excellent for this recipe because it keeps the salad looking uniform!
Basil. Use fresh basil for the pasta salad to brighten the flavor and add some beautiful color to the final salad.
Flaky Sea Salt. Flaky sea salt really adds some delicious flavor to this salad and a slight crunch. This is my favorite brand of flaky sea salt.
Freshly Cracked Pepper. Freshly cracked pepper tastes so fresh and delicious on this salad!
Balsamic Reduction. For some added sweetness and syrupy texture, balsamic reduction adds some incredible flavor to this pasta salad.

how to make balsamic tomato & basil Pasta Salad:

Step One: Before you begin making your salad, you will need to first cook and chill the pasta. Begin by cooking the bow tie pasta according to the directions of your particular brand until al dente, usually 10 minutes.

Step Two: Drain the pasta and place into a large bowl. Toss the pasta with as much as 1 teaspoon of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator until chilled, about 1 to 2 hours.

Step Three: Next, make the Balsamic Dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk until all of the ingredients are well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Set this aside for now.

Step Four: In a large bowl, combine the cooked and chilled pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil. Toss gently to evenly distribute the ingredients, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the balsamic dressing over the salad and toss again to coat everything well, another minute. Season the salad with more flaky sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.

tips for making this pasta salad:

This summer pasta salad with balsamic dress, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil is really so easy to make. You can’t really mess it up, but there are a few little tricks that can help make the final dish the best it can be.

Undercook Your Pasta. To help prevent the salad from becoming soggy overtime as the pasta soaks in more liquid, slightly undercook your pasta or cook it al dente.
Let the Salad Marinate. This pasta salad tastes better after it has sat for some time and the flavors have really marinated and blended together. I think it tastes the best after about 12 hours, or overnight!
Keep the Pieces Uniform. For a beautiful presentation and easier easting experience, make sure to keep all of the components a uniform size. Using round cherry tomatoes and mozzarella pearls really helps the overall look of this salad.

final thoughts:

This beautiful summer side dish is so filling and delicious! It has easily become my new favorite recipe, I and have already made it three times this summer. It’s a great recipe for using up all of those ripe garden tomatoes, and if you grow cherry tomatoes, then you know there are a LOT to work with. I hope you enjoy this fresh pasta salad as your new favorite side dish, appetizer, or summer lunch.

xoxo Kayla

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Yield: 8

Author: Kayla Lobermeier