Description
A colorful and refreshing pasta salad featuring rotini pasta tossed with crisp vegetables, mozzarella pearls, olives, and a homemade zesty Italian dressing. This easy-to-make salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQs, or as a convenient meal prep option.
Ingredients
Pasta Salad
- 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup red onion, finely sliced
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Zesty Italian Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the rotini or penne pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta.
- Prepare the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced bell pepper, sliced black olives, mozzarella pearls, finely sliced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt and black pepper to taste until well combined and emulsified.
- Toss the salad: Pour the zesty Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then toss thoroughly to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Chill before serving: Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill, enhancing the taste and texture.
Notes
- For extra protein, add grilled chicken, sliced salami, or chickpeas to the salad.
- Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator; it will stay fresh for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
