Description
A vibrant, cold pasta salad featuring fresh basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, and mozzarella balls. This versatile dish is perfect for potlucks, meal prep, and summer gatherings, coming together in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) short pasta (rotini or farfalle)
- 1 to 1.5 cups fresh basil pesto (or jarred pesto)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces (225g) fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
- 1/2 medium red onion, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add generous salt, and bring to a rolling boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes).
- Drain pasta in a colander and immediately transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- While still warm, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toss gently to prevent clumping. Let cool to room temperature.
- While pasta cools, halve cherry tomatoes and dice red onion. If desired, soak onion in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow the bite, then drain and dry.
- Prepare pesto if making from scratch, or measure out jarred pesto.
- Add tomatoes, onions, and mozzarella balls to the cooled pasta.
- Pour pesto over the top, squeeze in lemon juice, and add black pepper.
- Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients. Add a splash of pasta water or olive oil if the salad looks dry.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
Do not rinse the pasta with cold water after draining, as this removes starch needed for the sauce to cling. Ensure pasta is completely cool before adding fresh mozzarella to prevent melting. The salad tastes even better the next day as flavors meld. Do not freeze, as mozzarella and vegetables will become watery.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pasta salad, pesto, potluck, summer recipes, healthy eating, meal prep, vegetarian, easy dinner