Best Italian Pasta Salad with DressingVeg
Elevate your next gathering with this Classic Italian Pasta Salad with Dressing. This vibrant dish features tender rotini tossed with savory salami, fresh cherry tomatoes, crisp English cucumber, and creamy mozzarella pearls. It is rounded out with a mix of black and Kalamata olives and roasted red peppers for authentic Mediterranean flair. The entire salad is coated in a zesty, homemade Italian dressing that balances white wine vinegar, Parmesan, and herbs perfectly.
Ingredients
Pasta salad ingredients :
1 oz Rotini Pasta
3 cups Cherry Tomato
1 medium Cucumber (sliced)
1 medium Red Onion (chopped)
8 oz Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup Black Olive
1 cup Kalamata Olive (sliced)
1 cup Red Bell Pepper (thinly sliced)
1 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped)
Homemade italian dressing ingredients :
1 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 tbsp White Wine Vinegar
1 cup Cheese
1 tbsp Mayonnaise
1 Garlic (chopped)
1 tsp Dried Oregano
1 tsp Parsley
3 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper Powder
Salami 6 Oz
1 tsp Granulated Sugar
Roasted red peppers 1/2 cup
1 tsp Dry Basil
1 cup Italian Dressing
Instructions
Step 1— Prepare the Italian Dressing
1
In a mason jar, combine the extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, finely grated Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, sugar, and finely grated garlic
2
Add the dried oregano, dried parsley, dried basil, salt, and black pepper.
3
Cover the jar with a lid and shake vigorously until the ingredients are well emulsified and combined. Set aside.
Step 2— Cook the Pasta
1
Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil, add salt, and cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
2
Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the English cucumber and red onion, and coarsely chop the roasted red peppers.
3
While the pasta cooks, slice the salami into thin strips.
4
If using mozzarella balls, cut them in half (mozzarella pearls can be used as-is).
5
Pit and slice the black olives, and pit and halve the Kalamata olives.
6
Finely chop the fresh parsley.
7
Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and rinse immediately under cold water until completely cooled to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch.
Step 3— Assembly
1
In a large salad bowl, layer the cooled pasta as the base.
2
Add the prepared vegetables, salami, cheeses, and olives on top.
3
Give the dressing a final shake to ensure it is emulsified, then pour a generous amount over the salad.
4
Toss everything together until every ingredient is well-coated in the dressing. Serve immediately or let it sit in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld.
