Description
Summer’s signature pasta salad brings Mediterranean flavors dancing across your plate. Crisp vegetables, tangy herbs, and al dente pasta combine in a refreshing medley that delivers pure Italian comfort to your fork.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) rotini pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 pint (473 milliliters) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces (113 grams) mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 3.8 ounces (108 grams) sliced black olives
Cheese and Herbs:
- ½ cup (50 grams) shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup (15 grams) chopped fresh parsley
Seasoning and Dressing:
- ½ cup (80 grams) chopped red onion
- 1 cup (236 milliliters) Italian dressing
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a generously sized pot with water, add a pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Carefully add pasta and cook until perfectly tender yet firm (al dente), following the package’s recommended cooking time, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Drain pasta in a colander, immediately rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process, and drain thoroughly.
- Transfer pasta to a spacious mixing bowl, gently spreading it out to cool and prevent clumping, occasionally stirring to release excess heat.
- While pasta cools, precisely dice bell peppers into uniform small cubes, slice ripe tomatoes, thinly slice red onion, and roughly chop green olives.
- Cut fresh mozzarella into small, bite-sized cubes and finely grate Parmesan cheese.
- Chop fresh parsley leaves into delicate, fine pieces.
- Combine the cooled pasta with chopped vegetables, mozzarella cubes, Parmesan, and parsley in the mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the prepared dressing over the ingredients, tossing gently but thoroughly to ensure even coating.
- Taste the pasta salad and adjust seasoning with additional salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Before serving, give the pasta salad a final gentle stir, taste once more, and make any last-minute seasoning adjustments.
Notes
- Chill the pasta salad for a minimum of 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop a rich, harmonious taste profile.
- Rinse pasta with cool water immediately after cooking to stop the cooking process and prevent overcooking, ensuring a perfect al dente texture.
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients like ripe tomatoes, crisp bell peppers, and premium mozzarella to elevate the overall flavor and authenticity of the dish.
- Prepare the salad ahead of time, as it tastes even better when the ingredients have had time to marinate and absorb the dressing.
- Customize the recipe by adding your favorite herbs, proteins like grilled chicken, or experimenting with different types of cheese to make it your own.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, giving you a delicious and convenient meal prep option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg