Italian Pasta Salad
A vibrant and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad, perfect for summer gatherings, featuring tangy dressing, salami, mozzarella, and fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz Rotini or Penne Pasta Choose your favorite shape.
- 4 oz Salami Opt for classic salami or pepperoni.
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese Cube nicely, fresh or regular.
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes or Diced Tomatoes Halved cherry tomatoes are ideal.
- 1/2 cup Black Olives Swap with green olives if preferred.
Dressing
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil Use good-quality olive oil.
- 2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar Apple cider vinegar is a substitute.
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning Adjust to your taste.
- 1/2 tsp Salt Adjust to your taste.
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper Freshly ground for better flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- Boil a large pot of salted water. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and let cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped salami, and cubed mozzarella.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes and sliced olives to the pasta mixture.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until well coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Serving
- Before serving, toss the salad again and add a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Notes
This salad can be served alone or as a side dish with grilled meats. It can be made ahead of time and stores well in the fridge for up to three days.