Description
This Italian Pasta Salad is a refreshing and easy-to-make dish perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks. Featuring rotini pasta combined with fresh veggies, mozzarella, olives, and an Italian dressing, it can be customized with or without pepperoni for a vegetarian option. Chilled to blend flavors, it’s a vibrant and satisfying salad that pairs well with a variety of meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- ¾ cup black olives, sliced
- ¾ cup mozzarella balls or cubes
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup pepperoni slices or salami (optional)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
Dressing Ingredients
- â…“ cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced black olives, mozzarella balls or cubes, thinly sliced red onion, and pepperoni slices if using. Mix gently to combine the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the Italian dressing, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well blended.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Toss everything together carefully to ensure the salad is well coated with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish the salad with chopped fresh parsley or basil for added freshness and color.
Notes
- This salad can easily be made vegetarian by omitting the pepperoni or salami.
- To make your own Italian dressing, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, and a pinch of sugar to taste.
