Description
This Simple Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish packed with rotini pasta, crisp veggies, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for summer picnics, meal prep, or as a flavorful side. Includes cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and salami for a classic Italian bite.
Ingredients
2 cups rotini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, diced
1/3 cup red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup black olives, halved
1 cup mozzarella balls
1/2 cup salami or pepperoni, chopped (optional)
3/4 cup Italian dressing
2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
1. Cook the rotini pasta in salted boiling water until al dente.
2. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop cooking.
3. While the pasta cools, prepare the vegetables and other ingredients.
4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives, mozzarella, and salami.
5. Add the Italian dressing and toss until evenly coated.
6. Chill the salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
7. Before serving, toss again and top with fresh parsley or basil.
Notes
Use whole wheat or gluten-free pasta if preferred.
Make this salad vegetarian by omitting the salami.
It tastes even better the next day after the flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-bake / cold prep
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 25mg