Caprese Salami Salad

By Nilson

Ingredients

• 1 8 ounce container fresh mozzarella cheese balls
• 1 1/2 cups sweet grape, teardrop, or cherry tomatoes
• 16 slices salami
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced basil
• 1/2 cup uncooked small size penne pasta
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 dashes garlic powder
• 3 dashes ground black pepper
• 3 dashes salt

Preparation

Step 1

Boil water in a medium size pan and add the pasta.
Let cook until al dente (about 10 minutes) and then rinse, and set aside.
Drain the liquid out of the container of mozzarella cheese. Add the mozzarella cheese to a large bowl.
Cut the tomatoes in half widthwise, and add to the bowl.
Thinly slice red onion and add to the bowl.
Then cut each piece of salami into match stick slices, and add to the bowl.
Next add the pasta, olive oil, salt and pepper to the bowl.
Gently stir all ingredients together so that the pasta is coated with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
Top with thinly sliced basil and set aside for just a moment while making the Balsamic Vinaigrette.
Add all of the Balsamic Vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together.
Just before serving, drizzle the Vinaigrette on top of the salami caprese pasta salad.