Best Classic Pasta Salad With Mozzarella Avocado And Basil Recipes

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ITALIAN PASTA SALAD RECIPE



Italian Pasta Salad Recipe image

This is one satisfying and flavor-packed cold pasta salad with crunchy veggies, fresh herbs, rustic old-world salami, tangy olives, and mozzarella. A zesty Italian dressing brings it all together.

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Salad

Number Of Ingredients 18

¾ lb pasta, ((I recommend fusilli or rotini pasta) )
Kosher salt
1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
1 bell pepper (any color, cored and chopped)
1 shallot (chopped)
1 cup marinated artichoke hearts (6 ounces)
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
6 pepperoncini, (chopped)
6 to 8 ounces salami, (sliced into bite size pieces )
6 ounces mozzarella cheese, (torn (or mozzarella cheese balls))
½ cup packed chopped fresh parsley
½ cup packed chopped fresh basil leaves
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, (minced)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and black pepper

Steps:

  • Cook the pasta in boiling water according to package instructions until the pasta is cooked to al dante (don't forget to salt your water). Drain
  • In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the tomatoes, chopped veggies, artichoke hearts, olives, pepperoncini, salami, mozzarella, and fresh herbs.
  • In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix the dressing ingredients together.
  • Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss to coat.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 292.3 kcal, Carbohydrate 31.1 g, Protein 13.2 g, SaturatedFat 4.6 g, Cholesterol 26.9 mg, Sodium 748.4 mg, Fiber 2.7 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CLASSIC PASTA SALAD WITH MOZZARELLA, AVOCADO AND BASIL



Classic Pasta Salad With Mozzarella, Avocado and Basil image

With its colorful jumble of tomatoes, avocado, olives, mozzarella and cucumber, this has everything you've ever wanted in a pasta salad. But feel free to customize the ingredients to suit your own tastes (see Tip), and to add lemon and salt to the dressing to taste. As long as you don't overcook the pasta, and add it while still hot to the dressing, you really can't go wrong. Make this a few hours ahead so the flavors have a chance to meld, but be sure not to add the avocado until just before serving.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     lunch, pastas, salads and dressings, side dish

Time 25m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

3 tablespoons minced shallot or red onion
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Fine sea salt, as needed
1 pound short pasta, such as campanelle, fusilli or farfalle
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup sliced cucumber
1 pound fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-size cubes
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil

Steps:

  • To prepare the dressing, in a large bowl, whisk together shallot, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk in oil. Taste and add more salt and-or lemon juice if needed.
  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until it is just al dente, usually a minute less than the package instructions. Drain well. While still warm, add the pasta to the bowl with the dressing and toss well. Let pasta cool, soaking up the dressing.
  • In a medium bowl, gently toss together avocado, lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
  • Just before serving, add tomato, cucumber, mozzarella and Parmesan to the bowl with the pasta and toss well. Gently fold in avocado and basil.
  • Drizzle with olive oil, cracked black pepper and salt to taste before serving.

CAPRESE PASTA SALAD (WITH AVOCADO!)



Caprese Pasta Salad (with Avocado!) image

This will be one of the tastiest pasta salads you've tried! It's packed with mini pasta, fresh mozzarella pears, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, fresh avocados and a tasty balsamic glaze. In other words lots of fresh exciting flavors here!

Provided by Jaclyn

Categories     Side Dish

Time 25m

Number Of Ingredients 12

10 oz. (2 3/4 cups) mini penne pasta shells
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, (halved)
2 small avocados, (diced (they should be fairly firm but ripe))
8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, then more for serving to taste ((use white balsamic vinegar for better coloring if desired))
1 cup (18g) slightly packed fresh basil leaves
1 cloves garlic, (peeled)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp finely shredded parmesan, (plus more for serving if desired)
1 Tbsp pine nuts or chopped walnuts

Steps:

  • Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to directions on package. Drain and let cool completely.
  • In a food processor pulse 1 cup basil leaves, parmesan, pine nuts, and garlic until minced. Pour in olive oil and process until everything is finely minced. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add pasta and tomatoes to a salad bowl. Pour basil (pesto) mixture over pasta and tomatoes and toss to evenly coat.
  • Add in avocados, mozzarella, basil (set some aside to garnish over top if desired), and pour in balsamic vinegar and toss just lightly.
  • Serve immediately with more balsamic vinegar and parmesan if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 406 kcal, Carbohydrate 37 g, Protein 14 g, Fat 22 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 26 mg, Sodium 234 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 4 g, ServingSize 1 serving

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