Description
Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish that brings together the delightful flavors of tender rotini pasta, savory salami, fresh vegetables, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or family gatherings, this salad is not only quick to prepare but also incredibly versatile. It can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish and is easily customizable based on your preferences. With its colorful ingredients and satisfying texture, Italian Pasta Salad is sure to please any crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz dry rotini pasta
- 10 oz hard salami, chopped
- 3 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 (6 oz) can black olives, sliced
- 2 cups chopped bell peppers
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls
- 3 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley and basil for garnish
Instructions
- Cook rotini in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
- Spread hot pasta on a baking sheet to cool for about 15 minutes.
- Chop vegetables and whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, mustard, honey, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper for the dressing.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta with salami, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, onion, mozzarella pearls, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and basil.
- Pour dressing over the salad along with reserved pasta water. Toss well to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 20mg