Italian Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
Italian Pasta Salad
Description
Italian Pasta Salad combines rotini pasta with several flavorful ingredients including salami, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, fresh mozzarella, black and kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and parsley. The salad is tossed with Italian dressing that adds tang and herbaceous notes. Cooking the rotini to al dente ensures the pasta maintains a firm bite that balances the mix of fresh and cured components.
The variety of vegetables provides crisp freshness, while the salami pieces bring a savory meatiness. Olives contribute briny contrast, and roasted red peppers add sweet smokiness. Fresh mozzarella offers creamy softness that harmonizes textures.
The salad can be served promptly after assembling, delivering vibrant contrast in temperatures and textures, or covered and allowed to marinate for one to three hours to let the flavors meld thoroughly. It makes a versatile side dish or light meal.
Ingredients
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 6 oz salami sliced into strips
- 10 oz cherry tomato halved (3 cups
- 1/2 English cucumber diced
- 1/2 red onion finely diced, medium
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls or halved mozzarella balls
- 1/2 cup black olives pitted and sliced
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers drained and coarsely chopped
- 1/3 cup parsley finely chopped
- 1 cup Italian dressing or added to taste
Instructions
- Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions in salted water just until pasta is aldente (firm to the bite).
- While pasta cooks, prep remaining ingredients and make Italian Dressing.
- Add dressing just to the portion fo salad you plan to eat. Enjoy right away or cover and let the salad marinate for 1-3 hours before serving.
Notes
- Consider making your own roasted peppers for a fresher flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 386 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 386kcal | 19% |
| Carbs | 30g | |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 23g | 35% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 39mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 1340mg | 56% |
| Potassium | 331mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 718IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 17mg | 19% |
| Calcium | 180mg | 18% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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