Best Caprese Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

• Vinaigrette Dressing
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Caprese Pasta Salad
• ½ pound dried pasta (farfalle or other small pasta is recommended)
• 8 ounces mozzarella pearls, or cubed fresh mozzarella
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions :

In a small bowl or jar with a lid, combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper. Whisk or shake until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Set aside.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the pasta firm.

In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, sliced tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and sliced basil. Drizzle with the prepared vinaigrette dressing and toss everything together. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.