Best Italian Pasta Salad (Printable Version)
Rotini, salami, mozzarella, and crisp veggies come together with zesty dressing for a vibrant, crowd-pleasing side.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta Salad
01 -
450 g rotini pasta
02 -
285 g salami, chopped into 0.6 cm pieces
03 -
240 ml English cucumber, quartered and sliced
04 -
480 ml grape tomatoes, halved
05 -
360 ml bell peppers, diced (preferably mixed colors)
06 -
120 ml red onion, finely chopped
07 -
225 g black olives, drained and sliced
08 -
225 g fresh mozzarella pearls
09 -
60 g parmesan cheese, shredded
10 -
120 ml fresh parsley, finely chopped
→ Dressing
11 -
300 ml olive oil
12 -
45 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 -
22 ml Italian seasoning
14 -
10 g granulated sugar
15 -
45 ml red wine vinegar
16 -
10 g garlic, minced
17 -
5 g Dijon mustard
18 -
3 g fine salt
19 -
3 g ground black pepper
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain well in a colander and rinse with cold water to halt cooking. Set aside to cool.
02 -
In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, sugar, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously until the dressing is fully emulsified.
03 -
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with salami, cucumber, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, black olives, mozzarella pearls, parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Pour the dressing over the ingredients and toss thoroughly until all components are evenly coated.
04 -
Serve the pasta salad chilled. Refrigerate if preparing ahead, and toss again just before serving.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
For optimal texture, cut vegetables into consistent, bite-sized pieces.
02 -
If fresh mozzarella pearls are unavailable, substitute with a mozzarella ball cut into small cubes.
03 -
Mini pepperoni can replace salami for a similar flavor profile.
04 -
Add tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh herbs shortly before serving to maintain their freshness.
05 -
A sprinkle of fresh basil before serving enhances both color and aroma.