Description
A bright, tangy pasta salad with a perfect balance of flavors and textures, ideal for potlucks and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces short pasta (rotini, fusilli, or shell pasta)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup cucumber, seeded and diced
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini or kalamata olives
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan or crumbled feta
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- For the dressing:
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rapid boil. Add the pasta and cook until just al dente. Drain and rinse under cool water. Toss lightly with olive oil.
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together red wine vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking to emulsify.
- Combine the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, pepperoncini or olives, and half the cheese. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently. Add fresh herbs and remaining cheese, and toss again.
- Chill and rest: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably 1-2 hours. Adjust seasoning before serving if necessary.
Notes
For added flavor, warm the dressing slightly before tossing with the salad to soften the vinegar’s edge. Always taste and adjust seasoning right before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: pasta salad, zesty salad, Italian recipe, potluck dish, healthy salad
