Description
Pasta enthusiasts will delight in this classic Italian pasta salad that brings Mediterranean flavors to summer gatherings. Fresh ingredients and zesty dressing create a perfect side dish you’ll crave at picnics and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) rotini pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 1 pint (473 ml) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 4 oz (113 g) mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 3.8 oz (108 g) sliced black olives
- ½ cup (50 g) Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup (80 g) red onion, chopped
- 1 cup (236 ml) Italian dressing
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boiling Pasta: Fill a large pot with water, salt generously, and bring to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until achieving the perfect al dente texture, typically 8-10 minutes.
- Cooling Technique: Drain pasta in a colander, rinse with cold water to stop cooking, and spread evenly in a spacious mixing bowl to cool completely, preventing sticky clumps.
- Vegetable Preparation: Meticulously dice bell peppers, slice tomatoes, julienne red onion, and roughly chop green olives with precision, creating a vibrant medley of textures and colors.
- Cheese and Herb Integration: Cube fresh mozzarella, grate Parmesan, and finely chop parsley leaves, preparing these flavor-enhancing ingredients with careful attention.
- Flavor Fusion: Combine cooled pasta with prepared vegetables, mozzarella, Parmesan, and parsley, ensuring an even distribution of ingredients throughout the salad.
- Dressing and Seasoning: Drizzle prepared dressing over the mixture, tossing gently to coat every ingredient thoroughly. Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Marinating Process: Seal the bowl and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, allowing flavors to meld and intensify, creating a harmonious culinary experience.
- Final Presentation: Before serving, give the pasta salad a gentle stir, perform a final taste test, and make any last-minute seasoning adjustments to perfect the dish.
Notes
- Master Cooling Technique: Rinse pasta immediately with cold water to stop cooking and prevent mushy texture, ensuring a perfect al dente bite every time.
- Precision Chopping Matters: Cut vegetables and cheese into uniform sizes for consistent flavor distribution and professional-looking presentation.
- Flavor Infusion Secret: Refrigerate salad for at least 2 hours to allow ingredients to marry and develop a more complex, rich taste profile.
- Serving Pro Tip: Always give a final gentle stir before serving and taste-test to guarantee optimal seasoning and freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg