Description
This Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleaser, featuring tender pasta, fresh veggies, mozzarella cheese, and a zesty homemade dressing. Quick, easy, and perfect for any gathering!
Ingredients
Scale
- Pasta Salad:
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/2 cup cucumber (diced)
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper (diced)
- 1/4 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup black or green olives (sliced)
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese balls or cubes
- 1/4 cup salami (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain.
- Prep Vegetables: Chop vegetables into uniform, bite-sized pieces. Slice olives and cube mozzarella.
- Make Dressing: Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix pasta, veggies, olives, mozzarella, and salami (if using). Add dressing and toss well.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Toss again before serving and garnish with parsley.
Notes
- To make vegetarian, omit salami.
- Add protein with grilled chicken or chickpeas.
- Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g