Italian Pasta Salad
Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, customizable dish that combines pasta, fresh vegetables, and a tangy vinaigrette. It's a perfect, easy-to-make option for any occasion, offering endless variations and a healthy balance of flavors.
Ingredients
- 16 oz rotini pasta
- ▢1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- ▢1 English cucumber diced
- ▢1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- ▢8 oz fresh mozzarella balls mozzarella pearls or Bocconcini
- ▢4 oz salami thinly sliced
- ▢3/4 cup sliced Kalamata olives
- ▢3/4 cup pepperoncini peppers
- ▢1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and basil
- ▢Italian salad dressing
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding a pinch of salt, and cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped vegetables, mozzarella, salami, pepperoncini, olives, and fresh herbs. Drizzle with Italian dressing and toss everything together. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed.
- You can serve the pasta salad right away or let it marinate for a few hours before serving. To marinate, cover the salad and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to meld. For extra flavor, I like to reserve some dressing to toss in just before serving, as the pasta tends to absorb quite a bit of it.