Description
This Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring rotini pasta tossed with a medley of fresh vegetables, savory salami, mozzarella, parmesan, and aromatic herbs, all coated in a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for a quick lunch, picnic, or side dish, it offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes that can be served immediately or chilled to enhance the flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins
- 16 oz dried rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
- 10 oz hard salami, diced
- 8 oz fresh small mozzarella balls
- 2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 2 cups bell pepper, diced (use a mix of colors if desired)
Herbs
- ½ cup parsley, chopped
- ½ cup basil, chopped
Dressing
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente, then rinse under cold water to cool and drain thoroughly to prevent sogginess. Dice the hard salami, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the black olives, dice the red onion and bell peppers, and finely chop the parsley and basil. Grate the parmesan cheese if not pre-grated.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rotini pasta with the diced salami, cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, diced red onion, diced bell peppers, fresh mozzarella balls, grated parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and chopped basil.
- Add Dressing and Mix: Pour 1 cup of Italian dressing over the combined ingredients. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Gently toss all ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning or add more dressing if desired.
- Chill or Serve: You can serve the pasta salad immediately or cover and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Chilling enhances the taste and texture for an even more delicious salad experience.
Notes
- This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance, making it ideal for gatherings and meal prep.
- Feel free to substitute hard salami with pepperoni or cooked chicken for variation.
- To keep the salad fresh, add delicate herbs like basil just before serving or tossing.
- For a lighter dressing option, use a low-fat Italian dressing or vinaigrette.
- Make it vegetarian by omitting the salami and adding extra vegetables or chickpeas.
