Description
A fresh Mediterranean pasta salad with rotini, crisp vegetables, tangy olives, and mozzarella, tossed in a zesty herb dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces rotini or farfalle pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
- 1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (dressing)
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar (dressing)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (dressing)
- 1 clove garlic, minced (dressing)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (dressing)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste (dressing)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to chill the pasta.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, red onion, and parsley. Toss gently.
- Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper to make the dressing.
- Add the chilled pasta to the bowl with vegetables and cheese. Pour dressing over and toss until evenly coated.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes to let flavors meld. Stir before serving and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
- Use crisp vegetables and avoid overdicing to keep texture.
- Watch pasta closely to ensure it is al dente and rinse to stop cooking.
- Use good-quality extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs for best flavor.
- Do not dress the salad too early to prevent sogginess; let it rest chilled.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling and mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Mediterranean pasta salad, rotini salad, vegetable pasta salad, fresh pasta salad, mozzarella pasta salad