Easy Italian Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
15 mins
-
Cook Time
15 mins
-
Total Time
30 mins
-
Servings
8
-
Calories
615 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Description
This pasta salad uses cooked and cooled bowtie pasta as a base, mixed with red and green bell peppers, grape tomatoes, diced salami, fresh mozzarella balls, kalamata olives, pepperoncini peppers, and red onion. The variety of ingredients creates a colorful, textured salad.
The dressing is a blend of olive oil, mayonnaise, white vinegar, sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, providing a creamy and tangy coating that complements the salty and fresh components. Combining the ingredients and tossing with the dressing produces a well-balanced Italian-flavored salad.
This salad can be served immediately or chilled before serving, fitting well as a side dish for barbecues, picnics, or casual meals. It can serve many people and is flexible with ingredient substitutions based on availability or preference.
Adjusting seasoning after mixing helps tailor the flavor. The pasta salad keeps best chilled and can be made ahead. The recipe yields a large quantity suited for gatherings but can be halved for smaller groups.
Ingredients
Salad ingredients:
- 16 ounces bowtie pasta uncooked
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup tomato cut in halves, little (grape, cherry, etc
- 8 ounces salami diced
- 7 ounces mozzarella bocconcini, mini, fresh, balls
- 1/2 cup Pepperoncini peppers chopped
- 1/2 cup onion red, chopped
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted, or black olives
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons basil thinly sliced, fresh
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped, fresh
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil a large, salted pot of water and cook the pasta al dente according to package directions. Once it's done, drain it, toss it with a little olive oil (about a teaspoon or so) to stop it from sticking together, and let it cool in a colander.
- Meanwhile, add the dressing ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk together (or add to a jar and shake).
- Prep the remaining ingredients.
- Add the cooled pasta to a large salad bowl along with the other ingredients. Pour the dressing over and toss until coated. Taste and season with extra salt & pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately or chill for a couple hours prior to serving.
Notes
- Prep time overlaps with cooking time, as you can prepare ingredients while pasta cooks.
- The recipe makes a large batch serving at least 6 as a main or 10+ as a side; halve the ingredients for smaller quantities.
- Ingredients are flexible; omit or substitute based on preference while tasting to balance flavors.
- Taste and adjust seasoning after mixing the salad and dressing to suit your preference.
- Find this recipe in the Salt & Lavender: Everyday Essentials cookbook on page 225.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 615 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 615kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 21g | 42% |
| Fat | 38g | 58% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 6g | 35% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 17g | 85% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 40mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 1097mg | 46% |
| Potassium | 397mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 907IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 42mg | 47% |
| Calcium | 177mg | 18% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
