Italian Herb Pasta Salad
Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Italian Herb Pasta Salad is a quick and refreshing dish perfect for any occasion. Tender rotini pasta is tossed with a medley of crisp vegetables, including cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red bell peppers, and red onions, along with briny kalamata olives for a punch of flavor. Fresh parsley and basil elevate the salad with aromatic herbal notes, while a tangy homemade dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Italian seasoning ties everything together. Customizable with optional Parmesan cheese, this pasta salad is an easy crowd-pleaser that can be served as a side dish, light lunch, or party favorite. Ready in just 30 minutes, this chilled salad is a testament to simple ingredients creating extraordinary flavor. Perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or meal prep, it’s a versatile recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz rotini pasta
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium red onion
- 0.75 cup kalamata olives
- 0.25 cup fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
- 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and chop the kalamata olives. Finely chop the fresh parsley and basil.
In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, kalamata olives, parsley, and basil.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss until everything is evenly coated.
If desired, sprinkle the pasta salad with grated parmesan cheese for added flavor.
Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled and enjoy your Italian Herb Pasta Salad!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
273 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 17.6 g | 23% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.2 g | 16% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 4 mg | 1% | |
| Sodium | 682 mg | 30% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24.9 g | 9% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.7 g | 13% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.4 g | ||
| Protein | 6.0 g | 12% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 109 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 288 mg | 6% | |
*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.
