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Farfalle Pasta Salad with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
This Italian Farfalle Pasta Salad with cherry tomatoes and basil is simple yet flavorful, the perfect recipe for a quick lunch, a picnic, or a summer potluck. And like many Italian classics, it’s made with just a few quality ingredients that truly shine.The star of this salad is farfalle, the bow-tie-shaped pasta that holds up beautifully in cold dishes. It pairs wonderfully with juicy red and yellow cherry tomatoes, aromatic fresh basil and Italian EVO Oil.
Ingredients
- 350 g farfalle pasta - 12 oz
- 500 g cherry tomato mix (red and yellow) - 1.1 pound
- 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 12 leaves fresh basil
- salt - to taste
Instructions
- Start by making the dressing, as it should rest for at least 20 minutes before using.Wash and dry the cherry tomatoes. Slice them in half, or into quarters if they’re larger. Avoid cutting them too small—they should remain juicy and chunky.
- Season the tomatoes with a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 3 tablespoons, or to taste) and a pinch of fine salt.
- Rinse and pat dry the fresh basil leaves. Tear them roughly by hand for a rustic touch - don’t chop them too finely.Use plenty of basil (at least 10 to 12 leaves) to give the farfalle pasta salad that signature Italian flavor and fragrance.Add the torn basil leaves to the seasoned tomatoes and stir gently. Set the dressing aside to rest for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. This allows the tomatoes to release their juices and the basil to infuse the olive oil with its fresh aroma.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it well. A good rule of thumb is 1 liter (4 cups) of water with 10 g (¾ tablespoon) of coarse salt for every 100 g (3.5 oz) of dry pasta.Add the farfalle pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until al dente, usually around 10-12 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.Toss it with 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking, then let it cool at room temperature.If you're short on time or feel the pasta is overcooked, you can run it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Once the pasta is cool, add the tomato and basil dressing. Mix gently to combine all the ingredients.Your colorful Farfalle Pasta Salad is now ready to serve! Enjoy this refreshing Italian dish chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Serving: 100gCalories: 533kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 13gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gSodium: 12mgPotassium: 496mgFiber: 4gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1120IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
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