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Caprese Pasta Salad Prepared in Bowl

Easy Caprese Pasta Salad

The season of summer is upon us and it's time to get real with cooking.
Summer is about fast and easy recipes so that we can spend doing more of what we love and less time doing dishes. 
Who wants to be stuck in the kitchen when the outside is beckoning us to play in our gardens, and with our kids?
I am all about the ease of preparation when it comes to a recipe and my latest find has me tossing my pasta pots out and using my microwave instead!
As an Italian gal, I crave this simple to make a salad, it tastes like my nonna's. 
Believe me, when you use this magic pasta (because it cooks in a minute) you will understand what I am loving!
Head to your produce section and stock up on the ingredients I am about to share with you, and you are on your way to an easy Caprese pasta salad.  
It's time to lavishly live food out loud, with fast preparation and delicious eats, who's in?
Head to your local produce department and pick up fresh grape tomatoes, and a basil plant.
Of course, you could just pick basil from your garden if you have it!
The basil plant will be something you will use again and again for your summer meals. 
While grape tomatoes are the perfect way to make a Caprese salad.
Grape tomatoes are key for those who love on the fresh mozzarella and the basil but not the tomatoes (chunks).
The tomatoes are easy to remove leaving no seeds and no residue! (think picky eaters and guests that don't like all foods, we all have our preferences)
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Additional Time 3 minutes
Total Time 9 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Recipes
Cuisine: appetizer
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 C Olive Oil
  • 6-8 Basil leaves rinsed and dried
  • 1 Pint Grape Tomatoes or Cherry Tomatoes
  • 12 small fresh mozzarella balls drained if in oil
  • 1 Tsp. Of Fresh Ground Pepper
  • 1 Bag of Barilla Ready Pasta - cooked

Method
 

  1. Get your ingredients set up ahead
  2. Prepare your pasta according to the directions on the bag (knead then open and microwave) 
  3. Now all the easy of preparation begins. 
  4. Upon completion of cooking ( a whopping 60 seconds), place pasta into a bowl.
    Barilla Pasta Ready in bowl
  5. Add in Basil ( leave whole)
    Caprese Pasta Salad Preparation
  6. Add in Tomatoes and Fresh Mozzarella
  7. Add in Olive Oil
  8. Spritz with Fresh Ground Pepper
  9. Mix & Serve

Notes

When you prepare this pasta in 60 seconds in the microwave it provides you al dente pasta with no need for boiling water or draining.Caprese Pasta Salad Pastas in bowl
I love this.
The Barilla Ready Pasta does not require refrigeration and it is perfect for travel, snacks, meals, dorms, vacation homes, etc.
Need the bag before microwaving. Barilla Pasta Ready being massaged for cooking
What you won't find inside of the pasta is too many ingredients, in fact, there is a total of 3 ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of sea salt and no preservatives and non-GMO ingredients.
Who's ready for the fresh and light recipes that offer up plenty of nutrition without sacrificing quality?