Description
Italian Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish with pasta, vegetables, meats, and cheese, dressed in a tangy vinaigrette or creamy dressing. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or light summer meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz (about 2 cups) of rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 medium bell pepper, chopped (preferably red or yellow)
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup olives, sliced (black or green)
- 4 oz Italian salami, diced (optional)
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cubed
- ¼ cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
- 1/3 cup olive oil (for the dressing)
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (for the dressing)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (for the dressing)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (for the dressing)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (for the dressing)
- Salt and pepper, to taste (for the dressing)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- Chop the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the bell pepper and red onion into bite-sized pieces. If using, cube the salami. Roughly chop the basil.
- For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl or jar.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the prepared vegetables, salami, mozzarella cubes, and fresh basil.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Add grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Stir again before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the pasta is cooked al dente to avoid mushiness.
- For a more flavorful salad, refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.
- If the salad seems dry after refrigeration, add a little more dressing or a splash of olive oil before serving.
- Fresh basil should be added just before serving to maintain its freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Italian Pasta Salad, pasta salad, Italian salad, summer pasta salad, healthy pasta salad, picnic salad, easy pasta salad