Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

This summery pasta salad is full of fresh flavors thanks to the homemade pesto sauce made with simple, clean ingredients (and nut-free!). Can easily be made vegan by substituting the mozzarella pearls with vegan shreds.

 1 (8 oz) box rotini We used Ancient Harvest Veggie Rotini... it's gluten free and contains an entire serving of vegetables in just 2oz of pasta!!
 1 cup cherry tomatoes
 ½ cup mozzarella pearls If vegan, we suggest Violife mozzarella shreds
Vegan Pesto Sauce
 2 cups packed basil leaves
  cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
  cup raw sunflower seeds
 2 garlic cloves
 1 tbsp lemon juice
 ½ tsp salt
 ¼ tsp pepper
1

Cook pasta according to package, drain, and set aside.

2

In a blender, combine all ingredients for the pesto sauce and blend together. Taste and add more oil, salt, or pepper if desired.

3

Slice tomatoes in half.

4

In a large bowl, combine pasta, pesto sauce, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls. Top off with extra basil if desired. Enjoy!

Ingredients

 1 (8 oz) box rotini We used Ancient Harvest Veggie Rotini... it's gluten free and contains an entire serving of vegetables in just 2oz of pasta!!
 1 cup cherry tomatoes
 ½ cup mozzarella pearls If vegan, we suggest Violife mozzarella shreds
Vegan Pesto Sauce
 2 cups packed basil leaves
  cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
  cup raw sunflower seeds
 2 garlic cloves
 1 tbsp lemon juice
 ½ tsp salt
 ¼ tsp pepper

Directions

1

Cook pasta according to package, drain, and set aside.

2

In a blender, combine all ingredients for the pesto sauce and blend together. Taste and add more oil, salt, or pepper if desired.

3

Slice tomatoes in half.

4

In a large bowl, combine pasta, pesto sauce, sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella pearls. Top off with extra basil if desired. Enjoy!

Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad

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