Italian Pasta Salad

Time :25 minutes
Yield :4 servings

The Scoop

This Italian Pasta Salad recipe is all about pasta pretending it’s fancy, salami showing up uninvited but welcome, and mozzarella doing the emotional support role.
Add crunchy peppers, juicy tomatoes, and suddenly you’ve got a bowl that tastes like you made plans in Positano, even if you’re just standing in your kitchen in socks.
Throw it in a bowl, toss it like you mean it, and suddenly you’re that person who “just whips up” something iconic for no reason.
Hack it:
Add cucumbers when they are in season for a very summery version of this salad.
Add capers instead of olives, or a little bit of both. That’s how they do it in the Mediterranean.
Make your own Italian dressing by whisking together some lemon juice, olive oil, and fresh, chopped dill, parsley, and thyme.
Skip the salami if that’s not your vibe and add chorizo slices instead.
Leftovers:
Add a layer of grated Parmesan and bake any leftovers in the oven until bubbly to make a quick casserole!
Stuff your baked sweet potatoes with the leftovers, add dollops of mayo, and watch them disappear!
Turn them into a Buddha bowl, with lots of greens, edamame, and chicken strips.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 pound pasta, uncooked
  • 3 ounces salami
  • 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup kalamata black olives, halved
  • 4 ounces bocconcini mozzarella balls, halved
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing
  • parmesan cheese, optional, grated, for serving

Directions

  • Cook the pasta in a pot of salted water until al dente according to the package directions, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the pasta from cooking and to cool it.
  • Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl or serving bowl.
  • Add the salami, grape tomatoes, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, parsley, and Italian dressing, tossing to combine.
  • Serve immediately and with parmesan.
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