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Quick Italian Pasta Salad (with 1 Secret Ingredient) Recipe

Quick Italian Pasta Salad (with 1 Secret Ingredient) Recipe
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★★★★★

5.2 from 29 reviews

This Quick Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed dish featuring rotini pasta, savory pepperoni and salami, fresh veggies, and mozzarella pearls, all tossed in a zesty homemade Italian dressing with a secret ingredient: freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or a refreshing meal, this salad is easy to prepare and can be made ahead for maximum flavor.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Pasta:

  • 1 lb rotini noodles
  • 3.5 to 4 oz pepperoni (about 3/4 cup, quartered)
  • 4 oz salami slices (about 3/4 cup, cut into quarters)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • 1 cup black olives (halved and drained)
  • 1 orange bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 green bell pepper (diced)
  • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
  • 2 tbsp chopped pepperoncini
  • 8 oz mozzarella pearls
  • Grated parmesan cheese and minced parsley, for topping

For The Dressing:

  • 3/4 cup native olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons organic lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup finely freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 1/2 tsp paprika powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Italian Dressing: Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, finely grated Parmesan, dried parsley, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, oregano, paprika powder, black pepper, and sugar in a jar. Shake vigorously for 30 seconds until well mixed. Refrigerate until ready to use and shake or whisk before adding to the salad.
  2. Cook the Rotini Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rotini noodles and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain thoroughly and transfer warm pasta to a large serving bowl, tossing gently to prevent sticking.
  3. Combine Pasta and Half of the Dressing: Pour half of the prepared Italian dressing over the warm pasta. Toss the pasta until evenly coated, allowing it to soak up the dressing for a flavorful base.
  4. Add Remaining Salad Ingredients: Add pepperoni, salami, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced orange and green bell peppers, red onion, chopped pepperoncini, and mozzarella pearls to the dressed pasta. Toss gently but thoroughly to combine, folding in mozzarella pearls last to keep their shape.
  5. Chill the Salad: Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours, to let the flavors meld together. Keep the remaining dressing refrigerated separately.
  6. Finish and Serve: Before serving, toss the chilled pasta salad with the remaining half of the Italian dressing. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of minced parsley. Optionally, add a little extra Parmesan for enhanced flavor.

Notes

  • For best flavor, prepare the salad a few hours ahead to allow ingredients to marinate.
  • Use warm pasta when first mixing with dressing to help absorb flavors better.
  • Adjust salt and pepper in dressing according to taste.
  • Store leftover salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Mozzarella pearls can be substituted with cubed fresh mozzarella if desired.
  • Feel free to add other Italian deli meats or swap veggies to customize the salad.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian pasta salad, rotini pasta salad, quick pasta salad, Italian dressing pasta salad, summer salad, cold pasta dish, easy pasta salad

Find it online: https://frommamamaya.com/quick-italian-pasta-salad-with-1-secret-ingredient-recipe/