Description

Take the wonderful ingredients of a Caprese salad and put them in a delicious, easy to make pasta salad. It's full of tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, orecchiette pasta, and balsamic vinegar. If not using white balsamic vinegar, don't use more than 1/2

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c. orecchiette pasta, or other small pasta
• 3 T. pesto, or more to taste
• 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 t. salt, or to taste
• 1/4 t. garlic powder
• 1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 t. white balsamic vinegar, or to taste
• 3/4 c. halved grape tomatoes
• 3/4 c. small pearlini fresh mozzarella balls
• 3 leaves fresh basil leaves, finely shredded

Steps

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook pasta at a boil until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain; cool.
2. Mix pesto, olive oil, salt, granulated garlic, pepper and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Add pasta; toss to coat. Fold in tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil.
3. Chill until ready to eat.