Individual Caprese Pasta Salads

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Yield: 6 individual side salads

prep time: 20

cook time: 15

total time: 35

Individual Caprese Pasta Salads are a fun way to pack a cooler for a picnic, or to serve to your guests at a gathering in the back yard.

Ingredients

for the balsamic vinaigrette:

½ c. extra virgin olive oil
⅓ c. balsamic vinegar
1 large clove garlic minced
2 T. minced sweet yellow onion
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

for the salad:

8 oz. cavatappi noodles cooked to al dente in salted water, and then cooled and drained
1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
12 oz. "cherry size" mozzarella balls
1.5 c. halved cherry tomatoes
10 to 12 large basil leaves sliced very thinly
⅓ c. finely shredded Parmesan cheese
freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

for the balsamic vinaigrette:

In a small bowl, whisk together oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, onion, Dijon mustard, and honey. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

for the salad:

Place cooled and drained cavatappi noodles in a medium size bowl and drizzle olive oil over the top. Fold to coat.
Set out six wide-mouth pint jars. Divide mozzarella balls evenly between the jars. Whisk the balsamic vinaigrette to incorporate, and then pour over mozzarella balls just to cover the mozzarella.
Divide cavatappi amongst the jars, and then the halved tomatoes. Top with sliced basil and shredded Parmesan, followed by a bit of freshly ground black pepper. Top each jar with a lid and refrigerate until ready to eat. When ready to eat, turn individual jars upside-down to let the vinaigrette move through the rest of the jar, and then shake several times to incorporate. Remove lids and enjoy.
Salads keep well in the refrigerator for a few days.

Notes

from a farmgirl’s dabbles

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 387kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by Spoonacular. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your own favorite calculator.