⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

🍽 Ingredients

• 1 pound Pasta (rotini, farfalle, or penne)
• 6 ounces Prosciutto
• 1 Red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup Fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 8 ounces Fresh mozzarella balls
• 1/2 cup Olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
• to taste Salt and freshly ground black pepper

📖 Instructions

1. First, get that pasta cooking! Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 1 pound of your favorite pasta (rotini, farfalle, or penne work well) and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well in a colander and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and chill it down. Set aside to cool completely. Don't skip this step—overcooked or warm pasta is a no-no for a great salad!
2. While the pasta is cooling, prep your other ingredients. Thinly slice about 6 ounces of prosciutto—I like to use a good quality, flavorful prosciutto, but any will do. You'll also want to chop 1 red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces and 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped. If you're feeling fancy, thinly slice a few pieces of fresh mozzarella for a nice visual touch, setting some aside for later to garnish. This is usually when I put some Italian music on and groove to it while I work.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, the sliced prosciutto, chopped red bell pepper, chopped basil, and 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes (halved or quartered if large). This is where you add the 1/2 cup of olive oil. Gently toss to combine, making sure all the pasta is coated with the dressing. Add a splash of red wine vinegar, a pinch of salt, and some freshly ground black pepper to taste. It may take a few tries to get the perfect balance, so don't be afraid to experiment!
4. Once everything's well-mixed, add about 8 ounces of fresh mozzarella balls, torn or sliced, gently folding it in. If you're a visual person, or just love to make things look nice, you can use a few of the nicer mozzarella pieces to garnish the salad at the end. Lastly, before serving, give the salad one last gentle toss, taste again, and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve immediately and enjoy the amazing flavors!
5. Optional: Add a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Seriously, this is a game-changer. But this is entirely up to your taste and what you like to eat. I personally prefer to add it at the end and just top with fresh basil leaves

📝 Notes

• Make sure to adjust cooking times based on your pasta and stove.
• You can add more veggies or other types of cheese, feel free to get creative!
• This salad tastes even better the next day, giving the flavors a chance to mingle.