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Make Ahead Pasta Salad

Make-Ahead Italian Pasta Salad Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 380

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb rotini pasta
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 8 oz mozzarella pearls (bocconcini), drained
  • 4 oz sliced salami, cut into quarters
  • 1 cup sliced black olives
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving (optional)

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rotini until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drizzle with a little oil.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
  3. In a large bowl, combine pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, olives, bell pepper, onion, and parsley. Pour dressing over and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
  4. Remove from fridge, stir, and taste. Adjust with extra vinegar or salt. Garnish with more parsley and Parmesan if desired. Serve.

Notes

The salad keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days. For the best flavor, let it sit overnight and bring to room temperature before serving.