The Best Pasta Salad
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
30 mins
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Cook Time
15 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
8 servings
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Cuisine
American, International
The Best Pasta Salad
Description
This pasta salad starts with cooked and drained fusilli tossed warm in a vinaigrette made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, finely grated garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper. Letting the pasta cool in the dressing helps the flavors soak in evenly. Once cooled, vibrant vegetables such as halved grape tomatoes, diced cucumber and orange bell pepper, along with diced hard salami and crumbled feta cheese, are mixed in. Red onion slices, torn kalamata olives, chopped dill, and parsley further layer the flavor with herbal and briny notes.
Just before serving, fresh arugula is folded in for peppery green freshness. The salad offers a mix of textures from tender pasta, crisp vegetables, creamy cheese, and robust salami. It can be served chilled or at room temperature, making it a versatile dish for picnics, side dishes, or light meals.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces fusilli pasta
- ⅓ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic finely grated
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
- black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
- 1 cup grape tomato halved
- 1 cup cucumber diced, Persian variety
- 1 cup orange bell pepper diced
- ½ cup hard salami diced
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ½ cup red onion sliced
- ⅓ cup kalamata olives torn
- 2 tablespoons dill chopped, fresh
- 2 tablespoons parsley chopped fresh leaves
- 2 cups arugula
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions; drain well.
- In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, garlic and sugar; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Stir in warm pasta; let cool 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, salami, feta, red onion, olives, dill and parsley; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Cover and chill, if desired.
- Stir in arugula. Serve immediately.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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