Pasta Salad with Mozzarella Sun Dried Tomatoes and Olives
Transport your taste buds to the Mediterranean with this vibrant Pasta Salad with Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Olives—a chilled dish that's bursting with bold flavors and ultimate freshness. Featuring al dente penne pasta as the base, this easy recipe highlights creamy chunks of fresh mozzarella, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, briny black olives, and aromatic basil. Tossed in a homemade dressing of extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a hint of garlic, this pasta salad is perfectly balanced and irresistibly flavorful. Whether you're hosting a summer barbecue, meal prepping for the week, or serving guests at a potluck, this versatile dish is a crowd-pleaser and pairs perfectly with grilled meats or crusty bread. Ready in under 30 minutes and even better when made ahead, it’s the ultimate make-ahead side dish or light vegetarian main course.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams Penne pasta
- 200 grams Fresh mozzarella (cherry-sized or diced)
- 100 grams Sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, drained and chopped)
- 100 grams Black olives (pitted and sliced)
- 20 grams Basil leaves (fresh, chopped or torn)
- 60 milliliters Extra-virgin olive oil
- 30 milliliters Balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove Garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper (freshly ground)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it. Set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing by combining the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Whisk until emulsified, and set the dressing aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, fresh mozzarella, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, sliced black olives, and fresh basil leaves.
Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and gently toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Garnish with additional fresh basil, if desired, before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
512 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 33.8 g | 43% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.4 g | 52% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 36 mg | 12% | |
| Sodium | 988 mg | 43% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 34.2 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 4.3 g | 15% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.6 g | ||
| Protein | 17.2 g | 34% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 320 mg | 25% | |
| Iron | 3.3 mg | 18% | |
| Potassium | 320 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
