Classic Italian Pasta Salad with Zesty Homemade Dressing

Name: Classic Italian Pasta Salad with Zesty Homemade Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 300 g spiral pasta; 180 g thick sliced salami; 200 g baby bocconcini; 1 piece red bell pepper; 250 g whole olives; 2 cup cherry tomatoes; 1 cup fresh basil leaves; 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar; 1.5 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp sugar; 1 piece large garlic clove, minced; 1/2 tsp dried basil; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/4 tsp dried parsley; 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes; 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper

A vibrant and refreshing Italian pasta salad loaded with savory salami, creamy bocconcini, and fresh vegetables. Tossed in a zesty homemade herb dressing, it's the perfect side dish for picnics, potlucks, or easy weekday lunches.

Servings8 Portions

Prep Time15 Mins

Cook Time10 Mins

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

spiral pasta
300 g
thick sliced salami
180 g
baby bocconcini
200 g
red bell pepper
1 piece
whole olives
250 g
cherry tomatoes
2 cup
fresh basil leaves
1 cup
extra-virgin olive oil
0.5 cup
red or white wine vinegar
0.3 cup
freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1.5 tbsp
sugar
1 tbsp
large garlic clove, minced
1 piece
dried basil
0.5 tsp
dried oregano
0.5 tsp
dried parsley
0.3 tsp
dried chilli flakes
0.5 tsp
salt
0.8 tsp
black pepper
0.5 tsp

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the dressing: Combine the extra-virgin olive oil, wine vinegar, grated Parmesan, sugar, minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, dried parsley, chili flakes, salt, and pepper in a jar. Shake vigorously until the ingredients are well emulsified.

Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spiral pasta according to the package directions, but stop 1 minute early to ensure it stays al dente.

Cool and drain: Drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Shake well to remove excess water, then transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl.

Assemble the salad: Add the sliced salami, halved bocconcini, red bell pepper strips, whole olives, halved cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil leaves to the bowl with the cooled pasta.