Italian Pasta Salad
Italian-style pasta salad with fusilli, salami, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives tossed with a simple vinaigrette.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 12 ounces fusilli cooked al dente and rinsed until cold
- 8 ounces mozzarella balls halved, or cubed block mozzarella
- 8 ounces thick deli sliced salami cubed
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup capers rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup Gaeta olives pitted and sliced, sub Kalamata
- salt and pepper to taste
For the Italian dressing
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano grated
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley minced
- 3 cloves garlic paste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For the dressing
- Combine together all of the dressing ingredients and whisk together until emulsified. Alternatively, use a food processor or blender. Taste test the dressing and season with salt and pepper if required.
For the Italian pasta salad
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and rinse until cold.
- In a large bowl, mix together the pasta, mozzarella, salami, tomatoes, capers, and olives.
- Pour half of the dressing on top of the pasta and mix well. If you need more dressing, add a bit at a time to get the consistency just right. The remaining dressing can be served on the side or saved in the fridge for a green salad during the week.
- The Italian pasta salad flavor will taste much better if chilled for at least an hour before serving. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Chilling for a couple of hours before serving really amps up the flavor.
- Leftovers can be saved for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 27.6g | Protein: 18.2g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 9.3g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 743mg | Potassium: 249mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1.7g | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 3mg