We’re totally swooning over this scrumptious Caprese style Strawberry Pasta Salad featuring fresh basil, spinach, mozzarella, and strawberries.
If you happened to see my last post, you know I’ve been on a serious strawberry kick!
The chickpea and I have been scarfing a carton a week and I adore sprinkling them on yogurt, oatmeal, salads, and sandwiches galore.
Wearing my trusty strawberry goggles, I whipped up this fun twist on a Caprese salad with tender pasta and juicy ripe strawberries.
It was so good, I basically licked my plate clean!
The combo may seem a little bit kooky but it’s super delicious and easily became a new favorite of mine. Since it’s a chilled pasta salad, it’s also wonderfully portable and makes a great portable lunch for work or school.
There’s this delightful kiss of sweetness from the strawberries that perfectly compliments the fresh basil, spinach, mozzarella, and pasta.
When these ingredients get all up close and personal with each other texture is pretty gosh darn phenomenal and the dressing?
DELISH! I’m totally loving this combo!
Caprese Strawberry Pasta Salad
Caprese Strawberry Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz pasta shells or spirals
- ½ cup mozzarella (balls or cubed)
- 1 cup roughly chopped fresh baby spinach
- ¾ cup chopped strawberries
- fresh chopped basil, to taste
FOR THE DRESSING:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 TBSP fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1.5 TBSP red or white wine vinegar
- 1.5 TBSP Italian seasoning blend (I love using Mrs. Dash)
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Boil pasta per package instructions, strain, then rinse with cold water.
- While the pasta cooks, combine salad dressing ingredients in a mason jar. Secure the lid and shake well.
- Chop anywhere from 1-3 cups of baby spinach (add a little… or a lot!) and drizzle a little bit of the dressing over the leaves. Toss to lightly coat. I often like to take a few seconds to toss my hands in and gently massage the dressing into the spinach leaves. It helps remove some of the “squeakiness” of the veggie and makes it turn this luscious glossy green – love it so!
- Add pasta, strawberries, mozzarella pearls, and basil and add remaining dressing and mix well.
- Dive in and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you get a chance to try this Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad, let me know!
You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS #PEASANDCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations! I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
It’s strawberry season!
Let’s celebrate by putting this ripe and delicious berries on everything in sight!
For a kiss of savory-sweet flavor, whip up a big bowl of Strawberry Salsa and don’t forget to add a scoop on top of this Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad.
Whipped Feta Strawberry Phyllo Cups make a fantastic party appetizer to share with friends.
Looking for something sweet? Try this Tropical Pineapple Strawberry Swirl Smoothie — it’s super delicious!
Questions & Reviews
Summer salads for me are a treat for dinner – hubby would prefer his salads as a side dish. In any event, all your salads sound amazing. Happy Summer and thank you!!
I cannot wait to try this! Just have to track down some of this pasta first
I would make a beautiful pasta salad!
That sounds glorious Sheila! Thanks for entering! <3
I’ve never heard of or even thought of pairing pasta & strawberries but this sounds deliciious! I would probably make a mac & cheese dish.
Mmmm Mac and Cheese sounds glorious! Thanks for entering Julie! 🙂
What a brilliant idea, I love the sound of this!
Thank yo Emily! 🙂
Wow, now this is my kind of pasta salad!! Love that you added strawberries to it!!
They were such a perfect pairing! Thank you Sam! 🙂
I would make an antipasto salad
Sounds fantastic, Latanya! Thank you for entering! 🙂
I would make spaghetti!
Chickapea Pasta is sooooo good with bolognese and red sauce – great idea + thanks for entering Katie!
Must get my hands on that pasta! Brilliant idea to add strawberries, too!
I really love using fruit in salads to add both colour, sweetness and texture. I think this looks just lovely.
Thank you Kavey! 🙂
You had me at all of those juicy fresh strawberries.
I would make Chickpea Pasta’s greek pasta skillet with burst cherry tomatoes. Thank you so much for the giveaway!
This sounds so good right now! Especially with all the hot weather we have been having!
I would make chickpea pasta, sauce, zuchinni, shrimp, squash.
This salad looks delicious, light, and filling. I love strawberries with spinach. I haven’t seen any of these brands at my grocery, but I’ll keep looking and ask the manager about stocking it. Terrific give away!!!
Forgot to mention what I would make…the better question is what wouldn’t I make! I’m a pasta girl!
Thank you so much Maqhi!!! I’m stoked for you to get ahold of this pasta, it’s so wonderful every which way from classic with red sauce to smothered in pesto to light salads like this one – love it so!
This is such a great salad for the end of summer! 🙂
Thank you Carrie!
Just love this, Jenn! I don’t get creative enough about using fruit in savory recipes, but this post is mighty good inspiration 🙂
I was guilty of the same until about a year ago and now I’m obsessed with fruity savory dishes! So excited for you to join me Gena! 🙂
I need to get my hands on this pasta. It sounds delicious! Your salad is absolutely gorgeous!
You totally do! I know you’ll love it! Thanks Anna 🙂
Brilliant, what a delicious flavor combo!
Thank you Kimberly! It’s so tasty together 🙂
This salad is just perfect! Love everything about it– especially that gluten free pasta! What a refreshing meal.
It’s so dreamy I want another bowl right now! Thank you Michelle! 🙂
This looks like such a light dish! I can’t wait to try it!
Thank you Jen! 🙂
Oh yum! I have two pints of strawberries and a bag of spinach in my fridge right now! Looks like I’ll have to make this summery salad!
Yay!!! It’s totally meant to be!
I’d love to make a pasta salad chock full of veggies from the farmer’s market!
Sounds fantastic Rosie! 🙂
I know my husband would whip up something new, fun, and Delicious!
Love it! Thanks Bianca! 🙂
Okay, this pasta salad is right up my alley!!! Caprese pasta salad and fresh strawberries?! Sold!!
Haha thank you Taylor! It’s a fun combo for sure! 🙂
Great giveaway, and that salad looks so yummy!
Thank you Maggie! It’s super delicious!
Love this for summer… So fresh and delicious. Can’t wait to try it and I love the contest
It’s soooooooo good!
What a beautiful and delicious looking pasta salad!! I’ve never heard of that pasta but I can’t wait to look for it in the store! I’m inspired to make this for Labor Day!
Gah thank you Elaine!!! It’s for sure worth hunting down – such a tasty pasta and I love your idea to serve it for Labor Day – perfecto! 🙂
I’ve been getting really bored with salads recently, but this looks way too fun and yummy to be boring! I’ve never had spinach and strawberries together before. Can’t wait to give it a try!
They’re a match made in heaven! So stoked for you to try it Nicola – thank you! 🙂
This is a delicious use of seasonal strawberries and I need to try the pasta. The giveaway looks amazing I do happen to love Uncle Steve’s sauces.
Thanks Janette! You’re going to flip over how good this pasta is — especially paired with some Uncle Steve’s sauce! 🙂