Description
This Deli-Style Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish perfect for family gatherings, picnics, or any occasion. Filled with crisp vegetables, creamy mozzarella, and a zesty homemade dressing, it’s sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
Scale
Salad:
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Start by cooking the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta. Set aside.
- Prepare the Veggies: While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumbers, bell peppers, and red onion, and slice the black olives. Chop the fresh parsley.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, prepared vegetables, cubed mozzarella cheese, and chopped parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve chilled and enjoy the burst of fresh, vibrant flavors!
Notes
- Cooking the Pasta: Be sure not to overcook the pasta; al dente is best for this salad to maintain a good texture.
- Chopping Veggies: Keep the vegetable pieces uniform in size for a more visually appealing salad.
- Chilling Time: If you’re in a rush, even 30 minutes in the fridge can make a difference, but an hour or more is ideal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg