Ultimate Italian Pasta Salad Recipe (video)
Zesty and easy Italian pasta salad with cheese, salami, antipasti and an easy homemade dressing!
Ingredients
- 1/2 to 1 pound rotini pasta
- 6 cocktail cucumbers, or 1 English cucumber
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 large red onion, or 2 shallots
- 1 large red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup olive medley, green, kalamata or black
- 1 cup feta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup chopped dry salami
- 1/4 cup sliced pepperchinis
- 1 tbsp capers, drained
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- small bunch fresh basil
For Lemon Dressing:
- 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp dried or fresh parsley
- 1/2 tsp EACH: dried basil, dried oregano, black pepper
Instructions
Preparing the Pasta:
- Begin by preparing the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the rotini pasta, or your desired pasta shape. Cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Once done, drain the pasta and keep it covered and warm on the side.
Preparing the Salad:
- Next, prepare the vegetables. Slice the cucumbers into rings; cut the cherry tomatoes in half or into quarters; chop the bell pepper and the onion/shallot. Place the chopped veggies into an extra-large mixing bowl. Next, slice the olives into rings; chop the salami into small bits. Add the cubed feta cheese, pepperchinis and capers into the mixing bowl. Stack the basil leaves, gently roll them into a log and thinly chop the leaves; add the chopped basil to the mixing bowl.
- I recommend toasting the pine nuts before adding them to the salad. Preheat a small frying pan over medium heat and add the nuts. Toss them frequently and toast for a few minutes, until the nuts are golden and aromatic. Add them to the salad.
Making the Salad Dressing:
- For the lemon dressing: simply combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, parsley, basil and oregano in a large measuring cup. Use a whisk or a fork and mix the ingredients together, until the oil and juice come together; about 30 seconds.
Assembling the Salad:
- To assemble the salad, add the cooked pasta and the prepared dressing. Using two large spoons, toss everything together until the pasta is well coated the fillings are evenly distributed. The pasta salad can be enjoyed right away, or stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 359kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 986mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1046IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 2mg