Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy and customizable Pasta Salad recipe is the perfect make-ahead side for all your summer gatherings! Pack it full of your favorite veggies, pickles, and cheese.
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Colander
- Pint-sized mason jar
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup olive oil (240mL)
- ⅓ cup red wine vinegar (80mL)
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (60mL)
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoons salt plus more to taste
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
For the Pasta Salad:
- 1 pound rotini pasta or another small shape, (450g)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved (225g)
- 1 medium cucumber quartered and sliced, (170g)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (20g)
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls or balls (225g)
- ½ cup sliced olives (80g)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley or basil chopped
- ¼ cup sliced pepperocinis (40g)
Instructions
For the Dressing:
- Add the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper to a large jar. Shake well and set aside.
For the Pasta Salad:
- Place a large pot of water over high heat and bring to a boil. Season generously with salt. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, until very tender. Drain, then rinse the pasta under cold water until room temperature. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Shake the dressing once more than pour half over the pasta. Mix to combine. Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella, Parmesan, olives, parsley and/or basil, and pepperoncini and mix to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve, or at least 1 hour.
- Just before serving, dress the pasta salad with as much of the remaining dressing as you like, and season with more salt, pepper, lemon juice and fresh herbs to taste.
Notes
- You can make the dressing and hold it in the fridge for up to a week before making the pasta salad. This is a great way to prepare a bit in advance if you're planning for a big gathering and making other dishes.
Nutrition
Calories: 435kcal Carbohydrates: 38g Protein: 10g Fat: 27g Saturated Fat: 5g Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 17g Cholesterol: 8mg Sodium: 570mg Potassium: 256mg Fiber: 3g Sugar: 3g Vitamin A: 383IU Vitamin C: 15mg Calcium: 118mg Iron: 1mg