Caprese Pasta Salad

This caprese pasta salad is my go-to dish for summer potlucks and picnics. It comes together in about twenty minutes and only gets better as it sits, which makes it ideal for making ahead. The quality of the ingredients matters here more than any recipe technique — use the ripest tomatoes you can find, fresh mozzarella, and good balsamic vinegar. Tear the basil rather than chop it so you get those gorgeous, fragrant ribbons throughout. Everyone always asks me for this recipe.