Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
This Classic Italian Pasta Salad Recipe is the cold pasta salad you need to be serving this summer! Made with tri-colored rotini pasta, this easy dish comes together in less than twenty minutes. It's the perfect dish to serve at cookouts and summer parties.
Servings: 8 people
Ingredients
- 12 ounces tri-colored rotini pasta (1 box)
- ½ cup hard Italian salami chopped or thinly-sliced
- 1 pint Glory tomatoes cherry-type tomatoes, quartered
- ¼ cup minced red onions
- 1 cup mini mozzarella balls 8 ounces pearls, halved
- ½ cup diced Peperoncini
- ¼ cup pitted sliced black or green olives
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Italian dressing vinaigrette **See note for alternate dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al-dente, per package directions. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking; shake off excess liquid. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels. Pour the cooked pasta onto the paper towels to let the pasta dry 10-15 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, add pasta, salami, tomatoes, onions, Mozzarella, peperoncini, olives and basil; stir to combine.
- Pour ¾ cup dressing over the pasta salad and toss well (all pasta ingredients should be coated with the dressing).
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until time to serve and add the remaining ¼ cup dressing. Toss together until well incorporated and serve.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
*Note: For an alternate vinaigrette, use Penzey’s Italian Dressing Base.
Whisk together 3 tablespoons Penzey’s Italian Dressing Base with 2 tablespoons water; let rest 5 minutes. Whisk 1 cup vegetable (or canola oil) and ½ cup white vinegar; add the Italian Dressing/water mixture and whisk.
Whisk together 3 tablespoons Penzey’s Italian Dressing Base with 2 tablespoons water; let rest 5 minutes. Whisk 1 cup vegetable (or canola oil) and ½ cup white vinegar; add the Italian Dressing/water mixture and whisk.
Nutrition
Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 532mg | Potassium: 306mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 585IU | Vitamin C: 14.8mg | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 0.9mg