Roman Holiday Pasta Salad

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 1 lb tri-colored pasta or 1 lb pasta shells
• 4 plum tomatoes, diced
• 12 pitted black olives, sliced
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 garlic cloves, blanched and minced
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, chopped
• salt (optional)
• fresh ground black pepper

Recipe

• 1 cook the pasta, drain well, and immediately rinse in cold water. shake off the excess water and chill.
• 2 in a large mixing bowling, add the tomatoes, olives, onion, basil, thyme, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and chilled pasta and then top with the cheese.
• 3 toss well, adding salt and pepper. refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.