Double Tomato & Cheesy Pasta Salad

Are you looking for something to take to a picnic this summer? Pasta salads are usually a staple at backyard bashes, but sometimes it seems as if all of the pasta salads taste the same. Not this pasta salad! It really stands out because of the flavors of the basil, capers, and sun dried tomatoes. It is also loaded with CHEESE, which to me always makes a meal extra delicious. Is that a bad sign?

I tested this recipe out about a month ago. My friend and I thought it would be fun to get together for dinner to celebrate our husbands' birthdays, and this is the meal that we decided upon making. She bought some ingredients, I bought some ingredients, and we put them altogether to make the salad. It was a hit. The recipe made enough for the four of us to have large servings (and I think the boys might have gone back for seconds), and all of us were able to eat leftovers for lunch the next day. 

Today another friend and I are going to make the pasta salad for lunch. I can't wait to eat it again. Yummy! 

Recipe for Double Tomato & Cheesy Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS:

Salad:

1 box of Rotini pasta noodles

1 pound of grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

3/4 pound of mozzarella cheese, cubed

8 sun dried tomatoes, chopped up small

1 shallot, diced

Dressing: 

6 sun dried tomoatoes

2 Tbsp. of red wine vinegar

6 Tbsp. of Extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove of garlic, cut in half

1 tsp. of capers, drained of juices

1 tsp. of kosher salt

3/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2/3 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped

Topping:

1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped basil leaves

DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add in some salt, and then cook pasta noodles to al dente according to package directions. Drain in a colander and then set aside to cool. 

To make the dressing, combine the sun dried tomatoes, vinegar, oil, garlic, capers, salt, pepper, and basil in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until smooth. 

Put the cooled pasta in a large bowl and add in the cherry/grape tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and shallots. Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss well. Sprinkle on the Parmesan cheese and chopped basil leaves. Enjoy! 

Adapted from: Cook Like A Champion, Originally from Barefoot Contessa Family Style