Description
Looking for a vibrant and flavorful dish that’s perfect for any occasion? This Italian Pasta Salad is just what you need! Packed with colorful vegetables, creamy mozzarella, and tossed in a homemade zesty dressing, this salad is both refreshing and filling. It’s ideal for family gatherings, picnics, or meal prep for the week ahead. With the versatility to customize based on your taste preferences, you can easily add proteins or swap out veggies as desired. Not only does it come together in just 30 minutes, but it also improves in flavor when chilled—making it a must-have recipe that everyone will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 8 ounces dry rotini pasta
- 8 ounces grape tomatoes (halved)
- ⅔ cup mozzarella pearls
- 1 medium orange bell pepper (chopped)
- ½ cup English cucumber (sliced)
- ½ medium red onion (chopped)
- ⅓ cup black olives (sliced)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- Basil (to garnish, optional)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, Italian seasonings, oregano, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Cook rotini pasta according to package instructions (reduce time by 1 minute). Drain and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta with grape tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, chopped bell pepper, cucumber slices, red onion, olives, parmesan cheese, and parsley.
- Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss until everything is well coated.
- Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve chilled.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 10mg