Description
Quick Italian Pasta Salad (with 1 Secret Ingredient) is a vibrant, flavorful dish that combines fresh ingredients into a delightful and easy-to-prepare salad. Perfect for summer picnics, barbecues, or casual family meals, this pasta salad features a secret ingredient—pepperoncini—that adds a tangy twist to every bite. With just 15 minutes of prep time and minimal cooking, you can create a satisfying dish that’s sure to impress your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini noodles
- 3.5 oz pepperoni, quartered
- 4 oz salami, quartered
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black olives, halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp pepperoncini, chopped
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red apple vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup finely freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp paprika powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp sugar
Instructions
- Cook the rotini noodles in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and cool under cold water.
- Whisk together olive oil, red apple vinegar, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings in a mixing bowl.
- Chop all meats and vegetables into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled noodles with meats, vegetables, and mozzarella pearls.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (150g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg