A fresh and vibrant pasta salad combining juicy cherry tomatoes, garlic-infused olive oil, herbs, cheese, and crunchy sourdough croutons, finished with a touch of balsamic glaze.
Calories:
Author: Sandra Myers
Ingredients
For the pasta salad:
½lb.mafalde corta or lasagnette pasta
¼cupextra virgin olive oil
6garlic clovesminced
2pintscherry tomatoeshalved or quartered
¼cupwhite wine vinegar
½tbsp.oregano
Salt & pepper to taste
1cupmozzarella pearls
⅓cupbasil chiffonade
1cuptoasted sourdough croutons
1cupParmigiano Reggianograted
Balsamic glaze
For the sourdough croutons:
3–4 slices sourdough bread
1tbsp.extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and let it cool completely. If it feels sticky, toss lightly with a bit of olive oil.
Tear the sourdough into small pieces. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat, add the bread and a pinch of salt, and toast until golden and crisp, stirring often. Set aside to cool.
Warm olive oil in a large pan over low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, keeping the heat low to prevent browning.
Remove from heat and stir in the cherry tomatoes, white wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes until the tomatoes soften and release their juices.
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the marinated tomato mixture, including all the liquid. Toss gently to coat.
Add mozzarella pearls, basil, half of the croutons, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Toss until evenly mixed.
Transfer to a serving dish, then top with the remaining croutons, extra cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Serve right away or let it sit briefly for deeper flavor.