Description
A flavorful and vibrant Zesty Italian Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta tossed with a homemade Italian dressing, fresh vegetables, cured meats, and mozzarella pearls. Perfectly chilled to meld the zesty flavors, this salad makes a refreshing and hearty dish for gatherings or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
Italian Dressing
- 1 recipe homemade Italian Dressing
Pasta Salad
- 1 lb. rotini pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black olives, drained and halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- ½ cup finely diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
- 3.5-4 oz. pepperoni, quartered (about ¾ cup)
- 4 oz. sliced salami, quartered (about ¾ cup)
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls
- Parmesan cheese, for garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing: Prepare the homemade Italian dressing according to your preferred recipe instructions. Refrigerate it until you are ready to use, then shake well to recombine the flavors before adding it to your salad.
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package directions until al dente, approximately 7 minutes. Drain the pasta thoroughly and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Toss with Dressing: While the pasta is still warm, pour half of the prepared Italian dressing over it and toss well to coat evenly. This step allows the pasta to absorb the bright and zesty flavors of the dressing.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the halved cherry tomatoes, black olives, chopped orange and green bell peppers, finely diced red onion, chopped pepperoncini, quartered pepperoni, quartered salami, and fresh mozzarella pearls to the bowl with the pasta. Gently toss everything together to combine all the ingredients uniformly.
- Chill: Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes. This resting period allows all the ingredients’ flavors to meld beautifully. For best results and deeper flavor, you can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
- Finish and Serve: When ready to serve, toss the chilled salad with the remaining half of the Italian dressing. Garnish the salad with freshly chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese. Serve chilled for a refreshing, zesty experience.
Notes
- Use rotini or any spiral pasta to hold more dressing and flavors.
- For a vegetarian version, omit pepperoni and salami and add extra vegetables or beans.
- The salad can be prepared a day ahead to enhance flavor development.
- Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you prefer a lighter salad, reduce the amount of cured meats or replace with grilled chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
