Do you love a good Italian pasta salad? If so, this recipe is for you. This Italian pasta salad from The Kitchn is rich in flavor and has the perfect dressing to go with it. You will feel like an authentic gourmet chef after whipping this up in no time at all – and your friends will be impressed too!
Introductions
When it comes to pasta salad, there are a lot of different ways to make it. But this Italian pasta salad is by far one of the most flavorful and delicious versions out there. It’s packed with all of your favorite Italian flavors like olives, tomatoes, basil, and more. And it’s so easy to make, you’ll want to eat it every day!
This Italian pasta salad is bursting with flavor and it’s hard to stop eating! The combination of pasta, vegetables, and dressing is so good that you’ll want to make this recipe again and again. Here are four reasons why you should make this dish:
1. The pasta salad is packed with nutrients.
The pasta salad is made with whole wheat pasta, which is a good source of fiber and other nutrients. The vegetables in the salad add even more vitamins and minerals to the dish. And the dressing is made with healthy olive oil and vinegar. So this dish is not only delicious, but also good for you!
2. The pasta salad is easy to make.
You don’t need any special skills or equipment to make this dish. All you need is a pot and a colander (for draining the pasta). And the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen! This dish comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
3. The pasta salad can be customized to your liking.
Don’t like one of the ingredients? Swap it out for something else! This dish is very versatile, so feel free to experiment with different vegetables, meats, or cheeses. You can also change up the dressing by using different types of vinegar or oil. Be creative and make the dish your own!
4. The leftovers taste even better the next day.
If you have any leftovers, they will taste even better the next day. The flavors have time to meld together, making for an even tastier dish. This dish is perfect for meal prep because it can be made ahead of time and eaten later in the week.
So go ahead and give this Italian pasta salad a try! You won’t be disappointed.
Notes:
1. This pasta salad is full of flavor and very hard to stop eating!
2. I used rotini noodles, but you could use any type of pasta you like.
3. I also added in some black olives, cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese to the salad.
4. I dressed the salad with a simple balsamic vinaigrette, but you could use any type of dressing you like.
5. This salad can be served cold or at room temperature.
6. This salad is best if made ahead of time so that the flavors have time to meld together.
Conclusion & Recipe:
This pasta salad is so good that it’s hard to stop eating it! The combination of flavorful ingredients makes for a dish that is sure to please. The best part about this recipe is that it is easily adaptable to your liking. So, if you want to add or remove an ingredient, go for it! This dish is perfect for a summer picnic or potluck.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Total Time: 20 minutes | Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients:
1 Recipe Italian Dressing
1 20 oz. Bag refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 cucumber peeled and sliced.
1-pint cherry tomatoes halved
1 6 oz. can of black olives, drained, and halved
1 Orange bell pepper chopped
2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
8 oz. fresh mozzarella balls quartered
8 oz. Sliced salami chopped
Optional: feta cheese, Parmesan, parsley
Instructions
Make Italian Dressing following the instructions. Let cool until ready for use, then mix or shake to combine before using.
Tortellini can be made according to the package instructions. Use cool water to rinse, then drain the pasta and place it in a large bowl. Mix the remaining dressing with the pasta. Mix the remaining ingredients into the tortellini.
Serve within one hour. Toss with the remaining dressing. While you can make a salad right away, I recommend that you let it sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will allow the flavors to marry and allow the salad to chill.
If you are serving later, gently toss all ingredients together but do not add any dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool in the fridge. Mix in the remaining dressing until ready to serve. The salad is great the next morning.