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Caprese Pasta Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

Caprese Pasta Salad with tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, basil, and lemon dressing
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Caprese Pasta Salad brings together tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, basil, and a lemony dressing for a fresh, easy bowl.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces whole-wheat or brown rice rotini or fusilli pasta
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 ¼ cups halved cherry tomatoes
  • 4 ounces mozzarella pearls
  • 3 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil, plus small basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, then drain it and rinse it with cool water.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the lemon juice, olive oil, red-wine vinegar, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper until the dressing looks smooth and blended.
  3. Add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls to the bowl. Toss gently until everything is lightly coated in the dressing.
  4. Serve the salad at room temperature, or cover it and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  5. Fold in the sliced basil right before serving. Add small basil leaves on top for garnish, if you like.

Notes

  • The salad can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Add the sliced basil just before serving so it stays fresh and bright.
  • Mozzarella pearls work well here, but a fresh mozzarella ball cut into small pieces can also be used.
  • Rinsing the pasta with cool water helps remove extra starch and keeps the noodles from sticking together.

Nutrition

Keywords: Caprese Pasta Salad, pasta salad, mozzarella pasta salad, tomato basil pasta salad, summer pasta salad

Find it online: https://thekitchenfinesse.com/2026/06/10/caprese-pasta-salad/