Kicking off Summer Salad Sessions with this Peach Caprese Pasta Salad 🍑🌿
This is Session 1 of 14 🙌🏼 All summer long I’m sharing vibrant, crave-worthy salads, and we are not doing boring! Here’s how it comes together:
Ingredients
1 lb pasta (I used Barilla bow ties, but any shape works)
12 oz cherry tomatoes, halved (I love using flavor bombs or a sweeter cherry tomato)
8 oz mozzarella pearls
2–3 firm peaches, cubed into bite-sized pieces
2 oz fresh basil
Optional balsamic glaze
Dressing
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp onion salt
¼–½ tsp crushed red pepper
Directions
Boil pasta in generously salted water until al dente per package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
While the pasta cooks, halve your cherry tomatoes, cube your peaches, and chiffonade your basil by stacking the leaves, rolling them up, and cutting across into ribbons.
Whisk together all dressing ingredients until fully incorporated.
Once the pasta is cooled, add it to your serving bowl and toss with the dressing until fully coated. Add the mozzarella pearls, tomatoes, peaches, and most of the basil. Give everything a good toss.
Taste and adjust for salt and pepper, then top with remaining basil and an optional drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Summer salads don't have to be boring or repetitive; mixing fruits like peaches with classic Caprese ingredients can elevate your dish to another level. I recently tried this Peach Caprese Pasta Salad during peach season, and the balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors was incredible. Using Barilla bow tie pasta gave a nice bite and held the dressing well without getting soggy. The key to a great salad like this is the dressing—the combination of extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, onion salt, and crushed red pepper creates a perfect harmony that enhances the natural flavors of the peaches and tomatoes. Whisk it thoroughly for a smooth vinaigrette that coats every pasta bow tie beautifully. For best results, be sure to rinse the boiled pasta under cold water to halt cooking and prevent clumping. Also, chiffonading fresh basil adds a wonderful herbal aroma and freshness that brightens the entire salad. This salad not only makes a fantastic side dish but can be a light, refreshing lunch, especially on warm days. Adding the optional drizzle of balsamic glaze on top boosts the flavor dimension even further. Feel free to experiment with cherry tomato varieties, like sweeter or 'flavor bomb' types, to customize the sweetness level. This recipe is versatile and forgiving—perfect for anyone looking to up their summer salad game with fresh seasonal ingredients and vibrant tastes.
