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Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad for Easy Summer Gatherings

This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad combines mozzarella, olives, and tomatoes for a perfect summer dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 1 lb bowtie pasta or rotini, shells, or penne
For the Vegetables
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 6 oz can whole olives halved
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 small shallot minced
For the Cheese
  • 8 oz mini mozzarella balls
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan optional for vegan version
For the Protein
  • 3 oz salami cut in thirds or quarters
For Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp coarse kosher sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper freshly ground is preferred
For the Dressing
  • 1 cup vinaigrette high-quality recommended

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Mixing Bowl
  • colander
  • Measuring cups
  • Knife
  • Cutting Board

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions for Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook 1 pound of pasta until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool.
  2. Rinse the pasta under cold running water to halt the cooking process and remove excess starch. Transfer the pasta to a mixing bowl and chill further in the refrigerator.
  3. Prepare cherry tomatoes, olives, shallot, and parsley. Cut salami into thirds or quarters and set aside.
  4. Add the cooled pasta to the mixing bowl along with tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, salami, shallot, and parsley.
  5. Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
  6. Serve immediately or chill for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 12gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 500mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 1mg

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-5 days. Can be frozen for 1-2 months.

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