Description
This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a side for any meal. Packed with rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and a zesty Italian dressing, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to customize.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad:
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup cucumber (diced)
- ¾ cup red bell pepper (chopped)
- ½ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup black olives (sliced)
- ¾ cup mozzarella pearls or cubes
- ½ cup salami slices or pepperoni (optional)
Dressing:
- ½ cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- Prepare the Salad: In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, mozzarella, and salami.
- Add Dressing: Pour Italian dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Add Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix well.
- Chill and Serve: Chill for at least 1 hour before serving to enhance flavors.
Notes
- This salad is easily customizable with additional ingredients like artichoke hearts or chickpeas.
- Best served cold, ideal for meal prep or gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 11g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
