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Italian Pasta Salad

Ultimate Italian Pasta Salad Perfect for Summer Picnics

This vibrant Italian Pasta Salad is refreshing, flavorful, and perfect for summer gatherings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Cooling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: PASTA
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 1 pound Dry Rotini can swap with any short pasta
  • 6 ounces Hard Salami can replace with pepperoni
  • 1 cup Grape Tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup Black Olives or green olives
  • 1 cup Bell Peppers (yellow and green) or any color bell pepper
  • 1/2 cup Red Onion or green onions
  • 8 ounces Fresh Mozzarella Pearls or cubed fresh mozzarella
  • 1/2 cup Fresh Parmesan can use Pecorino Romano
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley or dried herbs
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Basil or dried herbs
For the Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil or avocado oil
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Lemon Juice or vinegar as a substitute
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano or Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Honey
  • 1 clove Minced Garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Baking Sheet
  • medium bowl
  • large mixing bowl

Method
 

Directions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the dry rotini. Cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and spread the pasta on a baking sheet to cool for 15 minutes.
  2. While the pasta is cooling, chop the hard salami, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, and fresh herbs into bite-sized pieces.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper, whisking until blended.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled rotini with all the chopped ingredients. Pour the dressing over the mixture and gently combine to coat everything.
  5. If the mixture is too thick, add a few tablespoons of reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Chill for at least 30 minutes or serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 2mg

Notes

For extra flavor, top with fresh herbs before serving. It can be prepared hours in advance for deeper flavor.

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