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Tasty Italian Pasta Salad

Tasty Italian Pasta Salad Bursting with Fresh Flavors

A refreshing Tasty Italian Pasta Salad featuring rotini, mozzarella, and salami, perfect for summer gatherings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Salad
  • 12 ounces Rotini Pasta or fusilli or penne
  • 8 ounces Mozzarella Pearls or diced mozzarella
  • 4 ounces Genoa Salami or prosciutto or pepperoni
  • 1 cup Black or Kalamata Olives or green olives
  • 1 medium Red Onion soaked in cold water for mellowing
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes or diced bell peppers
  • 1 bunch Fresh Flat-Leaf Parsley or basil or arugula
  • ½ cup Parmesan Cheese or pecorino
  • ½ cup Pepperoncinis omit for milder taste
For the Dressing
  • ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar or champagne or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Parsley
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Onion
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Salt or regular salt with minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar or honey
  • 1 pinch Black Pepper preferably freshly ground
  • ½ teaspoon Dry Mustard Powder omit if simpler flavor is preferred

Equipment

  • medium bowl
  • Large Pot
  • Salad Bowl

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon juice, then add the dried herbs, garlic salt, sugar, black pepper, and dry mustard powder until emulsified.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Cook the rotini pasta for 8-10 minutes until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water.
  3. Prep the ingredients by chopping the salami, halving the cherry tomatoes, and dicing the red onion. Grate the parmesan and chop parsley.
  4. In a salad bowl, combine the cooled pasta with half the dressing, then fold in salami, tomatoes, onion, mozzarella, and parsley.
  5. Drizzle remaining dressing over the salad, sprinkle parmesan on top, and gently fold together. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 12gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 600IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 300mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Allow the salad to chill to meld the flavors, and customize ingredients as desired. Reserve some dressing for serving.

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