Creamy Caprese Pasta Salad
The caprese salad is classic for warm weather months, when tomatoes and fresh basil flourish. This salad is inspired by the classic dish, but with a few twists. Instead of mozzarella, burrata is used as a creamy substitute.
Ingredients
- For the salad:
- 6 oz burrata, quartered
- 3 c halved mini heirloom tomatoes, or other larger variety cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 heaping c strawberries, quartered
- ¾ heaping cup chopped crispy bacon
- 1 lb pasta, (see note) chilled
- Basil to garnish, thinly sliced (chiffinade)
- Olive oil to drizzle
- Salt and pepper to season
- Pesto dressing:
- ½ c pesto
- 2 Tbsp mayo
- 1 Tbsp Dijon
- 1 Tbsp honey
- 1 ½ Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, making sure to heavily salt the water. Chill pasta completely before mixing into the salad.
- Make the dressing: Combine the pesto, mayonnaise, Dijon, honey, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Chill until ready to use.
- Season the tomatoes and strawberries with salt and pepper and toss. Reserve about 1/2 cup to garnish the dish (optional). Reserve about 1/4 c bacon to garnish as well (optional).
- In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes and strawberries with the chilled pasta, bacon, and dressing. Toss to combine, then transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Add the burrata pieces and season the pieces with salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil. Garnish with the remaining tomatoes, strawberries, and bacon, and finish with a generous sprinkle of basil.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
In order to have this salad be well seasoned, it is essential to heavily salt the pasta water before the pasta cooks.
Additionally, the tomatoes and strawberries, pesto dressing, and burrata need to be seasoned to taste with salt and pepper to get the most flavor out of each delicious ingredient. Any short pasta (don’t use long varieties like angel hair, fettuccini) with lots of surface area can be used: spirali (what I used) fusilli, rotini, farfalle, gemelli, etc.
Make sure the salad is well chilled before serving for the best result.
This salad would be AMAZING with the addition of grilled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken.
Additionally, the tomatoes and strawberries, pesto dressing, and burrata need to be seasoned to taste with salt and pepper to get the most flavor out of each delicious ingredient. Any short pasta (don’t use long varieties like angel hair, fettuccini) with lots of surface area can be used: spirali (what I used) fusilli, rotini, farfalle, gemelli, etc.
Make sure the salad is well chilled before serving for the best result.
This salad would be AMAZING with the addition of grilled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken.