Tomato Lovers Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad for the Tomato Lover

This fresh and sundried tomatoes pasta salad is a tomato lover’s dream. It has the sweet taste of a sundried tomato, the bright flavor and pop of a fresh tomato, and the tomato-y oil from the can of sundried tomatoes in the dressing. It’s such a fun pasta salad to make in the peak of summer, when cherry tomatoes are at their peak ripeness. Paired with fragrant basil, some creamy mozzarella cheese, and crisp arugula, this pasta salad is good enough to be eaten as a main course!

The Supplies

Ingredients

To make this fresh and sundried tomatoes pasta salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Sun dried tomatoes in oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Mayo
• Dried oregano
• Pinch of salt
• Short pasta, like macaroni or farfalle 
• Torn mozzarella
• Fresh basil
• Baby arugula 
• Cherry tomatoes
• Grated parmesan cheese

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this tomato lovers pasta salad, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

• Large mixing bowl
• Cutting board and knife
• Large pot for boiling pasta
• Colander, for draining pasta
• Measuring spoons

Frequent Recipe Questions

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

• A: Yes,  absolutely! This pasta salad can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated. I would recommend serving the pasta salad within one day of preparing.

Are there any substitutions I can make for this recipe?

• A: Of course! The baby arugula can be substituted with baby spinach or any other small green lettuce. For the mozzarella, instead of tearing pieces you can use the mozzarella balls in water. 

Tomato Lovers Pasta Salad Recipe Tips

When making this sundried tomato pasta salad, here are a few tips to make sure it’s delicious:

• After boiling and draining the pasta, make sure to toss the pasta in the colander a few times. Otherwise, the noodles can steam and stick together. 
• I think this pasta salad is best served right away and at room temperature. The flavors really shine at a warmer temperature than they do once chilled.

Tomato Lovers Pasta Salad Recipe Details

Mix the Dressing and Start the Pasta

To get this pasta salad recipe started, you’ll first need to boil some pasta! Cook the noodles according to their package directions in salty water. Drain the noodles once they’re cooked and set aside to cool slightly. 

Meanwhile, mix the pasta salad dressing. Add the sundried tomatoes and all of the oil from the jar of tomatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add the mayo, red wine vinegar, dried oregano and a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix the dressing until everything has combined. Taste the dressing, and adjust the salt and pepper if desired. 

Assemble the Pasta Salad

Once the noodles are cooked and the dressing is made, it’s time to assemble the salad! To the mixing bowl used to make the dressing, pour in the cooked noodles, the cherry tomatoes, the fresh basil, torn mozzarella, and baby arugula. Mix everything together, making sure all of the components are evenly tossed in the sun dried tomato dressing. Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese into the mixing bowl, giving it one final stir to incorporate the cheese into the dish.. 

Garnish the pasta salad with additional grated parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to one day in advance. Stir to recoat the pasta salad in the dressing if needed. This salad is perfect alongside a Summer barbecue or as a dish on it’s own! I love this pasta with a bit of chicken for protein and a Lillet Spritz for a fun weekend dinner. 

If you make this fresh and sundried tomato pasta salad, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!

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