Caprese Pasta Salad

If you’re looking to add one more dish to your Fourth of July spread then search no more! Pasta salad is the perfect addition to a summer gathering because it can easily be made in advance and will stay fresh for days. It is also fairly easy to find 100% whole-wheat pasta, which means this dish is “real food” approved.

Ingreadient

• 8 oz whole-wheat pasta (like penne, rigatoni, or macaroni (dry))
• 1 ½ cup tomatoes (diced, any variety)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese (diced)
• 2 handfuls basil (chopped)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• pepper (to taste)
• balsamic vinegar (to taste)
• 1 cup basil ((leaves removed from stem))
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 clove garlic (loosely chopped)
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Step by step

1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Let them cool in fridge.
2. Chop and mix caprese salad ingredients. Combine and blend pesto ingredients together in mini chopper or food processor.
3. Mix everything together with noodles. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.