This is absolutely The Best Italian Pasta Salad! Salami, tomatoes, olives, onions, roasted red peppers, and a spicy pepperoncini vinaigrette. So delicious!
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The Best Italian Pasta Salad
Most of us have had our fair share of Italian pasta salads, but what makes the BEST Italian pasta salad? Let me tell you, perfectly cooked pasta, a collection of ingredients that vary in flavor, tang, and texture, and an absolutely mouthwatering homemade Italian vinaigrette that you may want to start drizzling on everything. Read on to learn more about The Best Italian Pasta Salad!
How To Make Italian Pasta Salad
Making this tasty pasta salad requires a few steps to yield the most delicious results.
The basics of the recipe are:
- Make your pasta! I like using a short cut of pasta, since it’s easier to fit on your fork! I used fusilli here, since the corkscrew pasta is the quintessential option for an Italian pasta salad! The nooks and crannies of each piece are perfect for catching pockets of dressing.
- Prep your veg. If you’re a movie in the kitchen, fear not! I break down how to prepare a number of different vegetables in this article. It’s part of my broader series titled “So Happy In The Kitchen”, which is dedicated to teaching you to love to cook!
- Make your dressing. Now, you could easily opt for a store bought version to reduce prep time, but I promise you: you will not regret making this super tangy and delicious Italian dressing!It includes pepperoncini peppers which add a briny layer of flavor that is absolutely mouthwatering!
Ways To Make Italian Pasta Salad Your Own
While I definitely recommend you start with this recipe as it’s written, there are so many delicious ways you can make this pasta salad your own. There are a number of different ingredients you can swap in: here are a few ideas!
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Shredded carrot
- Zucchini
- Kalamata or green olives
- Feta or goat cheese
- Fresh oregano or basil
- Use your favorite store-bought Italian vinaigrette
- Pump up the vegetables and reduce the pasta for a lightened up version!
What To Serve With Italian Pasta Salad
- The summertime classic: Cheeseburgers!
- Grilled ZucchiniCaesar
- A refreshing sip (like this CoconutWater Limeade)
- Your favorite crisp wine
Tools To Make Pasta Salad
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The Best Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb fusilli pasta, cooked
- 1 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
- 1 1/2 cups salami, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 12 oz jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- 8 oz black olives, sliced
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese pearls (or cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 cup parsley, chopped
For the pepperoncini dressing:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp dried oregano
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers, drained
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small food processor or blend. Process until fully combined.
- Add pasta, tomatoes, red onion, salami, roasted red peppers, olives, mozzarella cheese, and parsley to a large bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss completely to combine.
- Sprinkle with extra parsley to serve. You can enjoy it immediately or refrigerate it for up to 1 day in advance.
Absolutely delicious salad. Although 10 hour cook time is definitely not right haha