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This prosciutto melon pasta salad recipe pairs candy melon, salty prosciutto, contemporary herbs, and mozzarella with farfalle pasta and a zesty white balsamic French dressing.
I really like this pasta salad recipe a lot. Like, a lot. ♡
I first shared it right here on the positioning practically 15 years in the past, and it’s been a summertime favourite in our home ever since. It’s every part I need in a pasta salad this time of 12 months — good and light-weight, overflowing with contemporary elements, and completely balanced with candy and savory flavors.
Juicy melon and salty prosciutto are all the time an irresistible pair in my e-book, particularly when mixed with creamy mozzarella, peppery arugula, and a handful of contemporary basil and mint. Every part will get tossed with bow-tie pasta and a fast white balsamic French dressing, which retains the colours vibrant and provides the proper vivid, zippy end.. It’s straightforward to make forward, excellent for potlucks and picnics, and all the time disappears quick. Whether or not you serve it as a aspect or a easy summer season major, this one’s a keeper!
Recipe Ideas
Step-by-step directions are included within the recipe beneath, however listed below are a couple of fast ideas to remember too:
- Cook dinner the pasta al dente. We wish the pasta to be barely agency so that it’s going to maintain up nicely and never get soggy when tossed with the dressing. As quickly because the pasta reaches the al dente mark, rinse it completely with chilly water in a colander to halt the cooking course of.
- Use white balsamic vinegar. I desire to make use of white balsamic vinegar to make the French dressing, in order that the colours keep good and vibrant. However common balsamic vinegar will style nice too!
- Use a melon baller (or a easy cube!). I used the small aspect of this melon baller to scoop the melon into uniform slices. However in the event you don’t personal a melon baller, be happy to simply cube the melon.
- Tear the prosciutto gently. Prosciutto is delicate, so I like to softly separate the slices, tear them into bite-sized items by hand, and frivolously bunch them into small clumps to maintain them from sticking collectively.
- Add the arugula and herbs simply earlier than serving. Should you’re prepping this pasta salad upfront, I like to recommend tossing the arugula and herbs in simply earlier than serving in order that they keep vibrant and don’t wilt.
Recipe Variations
Listed below are a couple of different variations that you just’re welcome to attempt with this recipe.
- Use a special cheese. Swap the mozzarella pearls for creamy burrata (yum), crumbled feta, or ricotta salata.
- Use completely different fruit. Swap the melon for contemporary peaches, pears, strawberries, grapes or contemporary figs.
- Add nuts. Add toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds for additional crunch.
- Make it spicy. Add a pinch of crushed pink pepper flakes to the French dressing or toss some thinly sliced serrano peppers into the salad.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze. For much more balsamic taste, drizzle the salad with a wealthy balsamic glaze simply earlier than serving.
Extra Pasta Salad Recipes To Attempt!
In search of less difficult pasta salads to attempt? Listed below are a couple of of our faves:
Description
This prosciutto melon pasta salad recipe pairs candy melon, salty prosciutto, contemporary herbs, and mozzarella with farfalle pasta and a zesty white balsamic French dressing.
Pasta Salad Components:
- 12 ounces raw farfalle pasta
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
- 3 ounces prosciutto, torn into bite-sized items
- 2 ounces (about 2 handfuls) contemporary child arugula
- 1 small cantaloupe, scooped into melon balls
- 1 small honeydew, scooped into melon balls
- 1/2 cup loosely-packed julienned contemporary basil leaves
- 1/2 cup loosely-packed julienned contemporary mint leaves
Balsamic French dressing Components:
- 1/4 cup additional virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 medium garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon nice sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
- Cook dinner the pasta. Convey a big pot of generously-salted water to a boil. Add the farfalle and cook dinner till al dente. Drain and rinse with chilly water till the pasta is cool. Put aside.
- Make the French dressing. Whisk collectively the entire French dressing elements till emulsified.
- Toss the salad. Mix the pasta, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, cantaloup and honeydew in a big mixing bowl. Drizzle evenly with the French dressing and toss gently till evenly mixed. Style and season with extra salt and pepper if wanted
- Serve. Cowl and chill for an hour (or you may serve instantly). Serve garnished with the contemporary basil, mint and a twist of freshly-cracked black pepper and luxuriate in!