Fresh Mozzerella Penne Pasta
 

One of my favorite recipes...and great this time of year when you can get fresh tomatoes...rest of year I use cherry tomatoes...or the grape tomatoes. It is best with the fresh basil.

Fresh Mozzerella Penne Pasta

8 oz. fresh mozzerella cheese, cut into small cubes
3 medium tomatoes diced(I used cherry tomatoes cut in quarters)
2 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup fresh basil, coarsely chopped, or 2 t. dried basil
1/2 cup olive oil(I used less)
1 Tbls fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp. coarse salt(or 1 t. regular salt)
pepper to taste
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes(optional)
1-16oz. package penne pasta
freshly grated parmesan cheese

In a large bowl combine all ingredients except penne pasta. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
In the meantime, cook penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and return to pan.
Add tomato mixture and toss to coat throughly. Transfer onto individual serving plates and garnish with parmesan cheese.

Serves 4.

This also tasted good cold so would make a good pasta salad. It works to reheat it (about 1 minute in microwave)but the mozzerella cheese does melt.

Sounds awesome, thanks!

Oh my goodness, this is good. I got the similar recipe from Martha Stewart show and tried it out. Sooo good...but had forgotten about it until I saw your post. Just happen to have fresh moz that I bought for pizza...dear neighbor gave me tomatoes, so this will be our dinner tonight. Thanks for jogging my brain!!

I'm back this a.m. to report--sooo yummy! I didn't have avocados, so substituted a few chopped olives. Enuff remains for rerun tonight. Glad I made too much!

Thanks for the recipe. A man from work brought this in one day. He said his sister-in-law made it and that it was just the ingredients you saw and italian dressing. I tried every italian dressing I could find and it never tasted right. This sounds like it is probably it. Been wanting a pasta salad, will have to make this.