Il Cucinologo
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Cold Pasta Salad in Crudaiola Sauce

17/11/2023

The cold pasta salad in crudaiola sauce is a fresh dish ideal for hot days. Typically summer, this dish can be prepared simply and quickly. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

  • 300g short pasta (such as farfalle, fusilli, penne)
  • 500g ripe tomatoes
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • Fresh basil to taste
  • 1 buffalo mozzarella (or fior di latte)
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste (optional)
  • Pitted black olives (optional)
  • Salted capers (optional)
  • Salted or oil-packed anchovies (optional, for a more pronounced flavor note)

Preparation

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions for al dente. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and cool it quickly.
  2. While the pasta cooks, prepare the crudaiola sauce. Wash the tomatoes and cut them into cubes, removing the seeds if you prefer a less watery sauce.
  3. Peel the garlic cloves and crush them with the back of a knife, then chop finely or, if preferred, leave whole and remove later for milder flavor.
  4. Wash and dry the basil leaves and cut into strips or leave whole according to your preference.
  5. In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, garlic, basil, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. If you chose to add olives, capers or anchovies, incorporate them at this stage.
  6. Cut the mozzarella into cubes and add to the crudaiola sauce, mixing gently.
  7. Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the crudaiola sauce and mozzarella, and mix well to absorb the flavors.
  8. Let the pasta salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving, to allow the flavors to develop further.
  9. Serve the cold pasta salad in crudaiola sauce well chilled, garnished with a few fresh basil leaves.

Curiosities

The crudaiola sauce owes its name to the fact that all its components are used raw (crudaiola indeed), and this helps preserve the integrity of the fresh taste of the tomatoes and basil. In addition, cold pasta is great to prepare in advance for picnics or outdoor lunches. A glass of fresh white wine is the ideal pairing for this dish.