Gramps Italian Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant flavors and hearty ingredients, Gramps Italian Pasta Salad is a timeless classic perfect for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners. This zesty dish combines tender rotini pasta with crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, paired with savory additions such as mozzarella cheese balls, diced salami, and tangy Kalamata olives. Tossed in a homemade Italian dressing infused with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning, each bite is a delightful medley of fresh and bold tastes. Finished with aromatic basil leaves, this pasta salad is best served chilled to let the flavors fully meld together, making it a refreshing and crowd-pleasing side or main dish. Whether you're craving comfort food or something light and satisfying, Gramps' recipe will transport you straight to an old-world Italian kitchen.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta
- 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
- 1 large Cucumber
- 1 medium Red bell pepper
- 1 Small red onion
- 8 oz Mozzarella cheese balls (Ciliegine)
- 4 oz Salami, finely diced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop cooking, and set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta is cooling, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, mozzarella cheese balls, diced salami, sliced Kalamata olives, and fresh basil leaves.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and adjust the seasoning with additional salt or pepper if desired.
Serve chilled and enjoy a taste of Gramps' Italian-inspired goodness!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3515 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 192.1 g | 246% | |
| Saturated Fat | 55.2 g | 276% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 202 mg | 68% | |
| Sodium | 8599 mg | 374% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 332.2 g | 121% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.9 g | 128% | |
| Total Sugars | 43.9 g | ||
| Protein | 115.5 g | 231% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1333 mg | 103% | |
| Iron | 25.2 mg | 140% | |
| Potassium | 3120 mg | 66% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
