Julies Italian Pasta Salad

Julie's Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed side dish that brings the best of the Mediterranean to your table. Featuring tender rotini pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, sweet red bell pepper, tangy Kalamata olives, and creamy fresh mozzarella balls, this salad bursts with fresh, wholesome ingredients. The zesty homemade dressing, crafted from extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey, ties it all together with a perfect balance of tang and sweetness. Ready in just 30 minutes, this pasta salad is ideal for summer potlucks, picnics, or as a refreshing accompaniment to your favorite grilled mains. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a hassle-free crowd-pleaser that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces Rotini pasta
• 1 pint Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 1 small Red onion
• 1 cup Kalamata olives
• 8 ounces Fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)
• 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside to cool completely.

Step 2

While the pasta cools, prep the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, dice the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion. Slice the Kalamata olives in half and chop the fresh basil leaves into thin ribbons.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, mozzarella balls, and basil. Gently toss to combine.

Step 4

To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well emulsified.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.

Step 6

Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1851 grams (1851.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3192

Total Fat 165.40g	212%
Saturated Fat 40.10g	201%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 122mg	41%
Sodium 4586mg	199%
Total Carbohydrate 334.10g	121%
Dietary Fiber 38.00g	136%
Total Sugars 49.60g
Protein 92.00g	184%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1325mg	102%
Iron 24mg	133%
Potassium 2769mg	59%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 46.6%

Protein: 11.5%

Carbs: 41.9%