Julies Italian Pasta Salad
Julie's Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed side dish that brings the best of the Mediterranean to your table. Featuring tender rotini pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell pepper, tangy Kalamata olives, and creamy fresh mozzarella balls, this salad bursts with fresh, wholesome ingredients. The zesty homemade dressing, crafted from extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey, ties it all together with a perfect balance of tang and sweetness. Ready in just 30 minutes, this pasta salad is ideal for summer potlucks, picnics, or as a refreshing accompaniment to your favorite grilled mains. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a hassle-free crowd-pleaser that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Rotini pasta
- 1 pint Cherry tomatoes
- 1 large Cucumber
- 1 medium Red bell pepper
- 1 small Red onion
- 1 cup Kalamata olives
- 8 ounces Fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
- 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves
- 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 clove Garlic
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside to cool completely.
While the pasta cools, prep the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, dice the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion. Slice the Kalamata olives in half and chop the fresh basil leaves into thin ribbons.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, mozzarella balls, and basil. Gently toss to combine.
To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well emulsified.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3192 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 165.4 g | 212% | |
| Saturated Fat | 40.1 g | 200% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 122 mg | 40% | |
| Sodium | 4586 mg | 199% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 334.1 g | 121% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 38.0 g | 136% | |
| Total Sugars | 49.6 g | ||
| Protein | 92.0 g | 184% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 1325 mg | 102% | |
| Iron | 23.9 mg | 133% | |
| Potassium | 2769 mg | 59% | |
*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.
