Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
This easy recipe creates a vibrant pasta salad featuring fusilli, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, and fresh mozzarella. It's tossed in a tangy sun-dried tomato vinaigrette and finished with Parmesan and fresh basil, perfect served at room temperature or chilled.
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot For cooking pasta
- 1 Colander For draining pasta
- 1 Large Bowl For mixing ingredients
- 1 Food Processor For making the dressing
- 1 Cutting Board and Knife For preparing ingredients
Ingredients
Main
- 1/2 pound fusilli spirals pasta
- Kosher salt
- Olive oil
- 1 pound ripe tomatoes medium-diced
- 3/4 cup good black olives such as kalamata, pitted and diced
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella medium-diced
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
- 5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 6 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1 garlic clove diced
- 1 teaspoon capers drained
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 cup packed basil leaves julienned
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil, and toss well.
Notes
Ensure the pasta is completely cool before adding it to the bowl with the mozzarella and fresh vegetables; this prevents the cheese from melting and keeps the dish fresh. Using high-quality sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, good olives like Kalamata, and fresh mozzarella will significantly enhance the flavor and texture. Process the dressing just until 'almost smooth' for a bit of texture from the sun-dried tomatoes. Taste and adjust salt and pepper before serving.