Description
A vibrant and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, salami, fresh mozzarella, and a medley of colorful vegetables tossed in zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a refreshing side dish or light meal, with fresh herbs enhancing the authentic taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins
- 16 oz dried rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
- 10 oz hard salami, diced
- 8 oz fresh small mozzarella balls
- 2 oz parmesan cheese, grated
Vegetables
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 2 cups bell pepper, diced (use a mix of colors if desired)
Herbs
- ½ cup parsley, chopped
- ½ cup basil, chopped
Dressing
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Cook the rotini pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain well to cool. Dice the hard salami, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the black olives, dice the red onion and bell pepper, and chop the parsley and basil. Grate the parmesan cheese if not pre-grated.
- Combine Salad Components: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, diced salami, cherry tomatoes, black olives, red onion, bell pepper, mozzarella balls, parmesan cheese, chopped parsley, and chopped basil.
- Add Dressing and Season: Pour the Italian dressing over the combination of ingredients. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are evenly coated and the salad is well mixed. Taste and adjust dressing or seasoning as desired.
- Serve or Chill: The salad can be served immediately or covered and refrigerated. Chilling the salad for at least an hour allows the flavors to meld together for a richer taste. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead of time and refrigerate to allow the ingredients to meld.
- Use tri-color rotini for a more colorful presentation.
- Substitute hard salami with pepperoni or cooked chicken for a different protein option.
- Adjust the amount of dressing to your taste preference; add more if you prefer a saucier salad.
- This salad can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta.
