Description
A bold and flavorful pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables, savory meats, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, or meal prep. This dish gets better as it sits, making it a fantastic make-ahead option!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 12 oz rotini pasta (or penne, farfalle)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (red, yellow, or green)
- 1 cup cucumber, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella balls (or ½ cup grated parmesan)
- ½ cup salami or pepperoni, diced (optional)
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
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Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
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Chop the vegetables—dice the bell peppers, slice the cucumbers, halve the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion.
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Make the dressing by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
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Combine all ingredients in a large bowl—cooled pasta, vegetables, olives, mozzarella, and salami.
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Pour the dressing over and toss well to coat everything evenly.
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Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
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Serve chilled, garnished with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
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For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add white beans or chickpeas.
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If making ahead, store the dressing separately and mix before serving.
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Adjust seasoning before serving if needed, as pasta absorbs dressing over time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: No-cook (after pasta boiling)
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4G
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 15g