THE BEST Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni
User Reviews
4.1
THE BEST Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoni
Description
The salad uses thin spaghetti cooked al dente and cooled before combining with quartered cucumbers, chopped red bell pepper, sliced red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, mini pepperoni slices, and sliced black olives. Grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese adds a salty, nutty finish.
The dressing is made by shaking together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, sugar, pressed garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Tossing the pasta and vegetables in this dressing ensures the flavors coat every ingredient thoroughly and bring harmony to the mix.
The salad is chilled for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight to allow flavors to meld. This salad serves well as a side dish at meals or as a casual buffet addition. The pepperoni adds a rich, slightly spicy element that differentiates this from a classic vegetable pasta salad.
Ingredients
Spaghetti Salad:
- 1 pound spaghetti thin
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 2 cucumber quartered and sliced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- 10 ounces cherry tomato halved
- 8 ounces mini pepperoni
- 1 4- ounce black olives drained, canned, sliced
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese or Pecorino Romano, grated
Italian Dressing:
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 garlic pressed or finely minced, clove
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions in boiling water seasoned with 2 tablespoons of kosher salt. Drain, rinse and cool.
- Add the spaghetti to a large bowl with the cucumbers, red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomatoes, mini pepperoni, black olives and parmesan cheese.
- In a pint jar with a lid, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, sugar, garlic clove, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Shake well and pour over the spaghetti mixture and toss to coat.
- Add more parmesan cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 30 minutes up to overnight.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 461 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1g | |
| Calories | 461kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 50g | 17% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 35mg | 12% |
| Sodium | 2917mg | 122% |
| Potassium | 463mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 838IU | 17% |
| Vitamin C | 30mg | 33% |
| Calcium | 133mg | 13% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.1
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