Italian Pasta Salad

Italian Pasta Salad

from insanelygoodrecipes.com
20 min
8 servings

Liven up your next cookout with this Italian pasta salad! The addition of salami, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, and roasted red peppers is just too good.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound fusilli or rotini pasta
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
  • 1 cup hard salami, diced
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and transfer to a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil to prevent sticking, and let cool.

  2. 2

    While the pasta cooks, make the dressing. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the olive oil, vinegar, Parmesan, honey, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously to emulsify. Set aside.

  3. 3

    To the bowl with the cooled pasta, add the tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, roasted peppers, olives, onion, parsley, and basil. Pour the dressing over the top and gently toss to combine, making sure everything is well coated.

  4. 4

    Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed. If the pasta salad seems a little dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water or more dressing.

  5. 5

    For the best flavor, cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld. Enjoy!