Name: Easy Pasta Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 200 grams Fusilli pasta; 4 tbsp Black olives (- Sliced); 8 Cherry tomatoes; 2 Bell peppers (- Sliced, multi-colours. ); 100 grams Mozzarella Cheese

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Summer offers a variety of vibrant vegetables that can be incorporated into pasta salads, making them suitable for barbecues or home dinners. This Easy Pasta Salad is ready in 20 minutes.

Historically, cold pasta salads originated in Italy before the emergence of the American version, which typically uses Italian or creamy salad dressings. Known as “Pasta Fredda” in Italy, this dish is particularly popular in coastal and southern regions. Variations of pasta salad are also enjoyed in various parts of the world, including the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Asia.

Ingredients

Fusilli Pasta, Baby tomatoes, Olives, Jalapeno Chilies, Bell Peppers, Basil leaves, Pomegranate seeds, Mozzarella cheese, and Italian Salad Dressing.

Fusilli pasta is well-suited to this dish because its corkscrew-like texture helps it retain its shape when combined with Italian salad dressing. Various vegetables can be used, including sweet baby tomatoes, black olives, and jalapeno chilies for heat. Yellow and red peppers provide color and crunch, while basil leaves contribute an herbal flavor. Pomegranate seeds offer a tart-sweet flavor that enhances the salad’s overall flavor.

Italian salad dressings are commonly used for this type of dish; however, alternative dressings can be utilized based on available pantry items. Preparing salad dressing from scratch requires minimal time and a few basic ingredients typically found in most households.

Both mozzarella and feta can be incorporated into the salad. Mozzarella has a sturdy texture and a creamy, chewy taste, whereas feta cheese is characterized by its crumbly, salty texture. If feta cheese is chosen, it may be advisable to increase the amount of honey in the homemade Italian salad dressing.

Instructions

Cut the bell peppers into evenly shaped cubes. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half. If pre-sliced olives are used, leave them as they are; the same applies to whole olives. Chop the jalapeno chilies and slice the mozzarella cheese.

Add water to a pot and season with salt before bringing it to a boil. Once the water reaches a boiling point, add the fusilli pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Monitor the pasta to determine if it has achieved al dente consistency. In a separate bowl, combine all ingredients for the Italian salad dressing and mix well. Combine the prepared ingredients in a bowl and drizzle with the Italian salad dressing. The dish is now ready to be served.

What can you Serve with the Easy Pasta Salad?

This Easy Pasta salad recipe can pair with many delicious main dishes. Consider a juicy Rib-Eye steak that is full of flavour, this combination is perfect for a hot summer day. Feeling for something light, pair this pasta salad with some Grilled Fish, or Grilled Chicken.

How to Store the Easy Pasta Salad?

Suppose you are making a large batch of pasta salad and want to eat it throughout the week. You can store the washed veggies separately from the cooked pasta and the salad dressing. This will ensure that the items remain fresh and do not become soggy.

Easy Pasta Salad

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Servings: servings

Calories: 293kcal

Author: thetastejournal.com

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Ingredients

Pasta

▢ 200 grams Fusilli pasta

Vegetables

▢ 4 tbsp Black olives – Sliced
▢ 8 Cherry tomatoes
▢ 2 Bell peppers – Sliced, multi-colours.

Cheeses

▢ 100 grams Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

Chop the bell peppers into cubes for symmetry in the pasta salad. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half, and leave pre-sliced or whole olives as they are. Chop the jalapeño chilies and slice the mozzarella cheese.
In a pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the fusilli pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until al dente. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients for the Italian salad dressing.