Italian Pasta Salad with Tomato Mayonnaise
Elevate your summer dining with this vibrant and flavorful Italian Pasta Salad with Tomato Mayonnaise! Featuring tender al dente penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, tangy black olives, and aromatic fresh basil, this irresistible dish is tossed in a creamy homemade tomato mayonnaise made with a touch of garlic, red wine vinegar, and olive oil for a zesty Mediterranean flair. Perfect as a light main course or a crowd-pleasing side dish, this easy pasta salad comes together in just 25 minutes and can be made ahead for effortless entertaining. Serve it chilled and watch it become the centerpiece of your meal. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners, this recipe celebrates the fresh flavors of Italy with a modern twist!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 250 grams Penne pasta (or pasta of choice)
- 200 grams Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 100 grams Black olives
- 1 small Red onion
- 10 leaves Fresh basil
- 100 grams Mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small Garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon Red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process, and set it aside.
While the pasta cooks, wash and halve the cherry tomatoes. Peel and dice the cucumber into small cubes. Thinly slice the black olives. Peel and finely slice the red onion. Roughly chop or tear the fresh basil leaves.
To make the tomato mayonnaise, combine the mayonnaise, tomato paste, minced garlic (use a garlic press for best results), olive oil, and red wine vinegar in a small mixing bowl. Whisk the ingredients together until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, red onion, and basil leaves.
Pour the tomato mayonnaise over the pasta salad, and toss everything together gently until evenly coated.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if necessary.
Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Serve the Italian pasta salad chilled as a main or side dish. Optionally, garnish with extra basil leaves for presentation.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1615 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 114.5 g | 147% | |
| Saturated Fat | 13.5 g | 68% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 98 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 3377 mg | 147% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 136.7 g | 50% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 13.3 g | 48% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.0 g | ||
| Protein | 21.6 g | 43% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 217 mg | 17% | |
| Iron | 11.3 mg | 63% | |
| Potassium | 1431 mg | 30% | |
*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.
