Zesty Italian Pasta
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad has lots of texture from fresh crunchy vegetables and packed with flavor for homemade Italian dressing.
Servings: 8
Equipment
- large mixing bowl or salad bowl
Ingredients
- 14 ounces dry fusilli pasta *see notes
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- 1-2 small bell peppers
- ½ cup banana peppers, diced
- ⅓ cup feta, crumbled
- ¼ cup parmesan, grated
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped *see notes
- 1 small avocado, sliced *optional for topping!
Italian dressing
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbs water *to thin the sauce
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1-2 tsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- Start with cooking the pasta. Cook according to the package and don't forget to salt the water generously. While the pasta cooks, prepare all other ingredients.
- If you are making my homemade Italian Dressing, add all ingredients to a jar with a lid and give it a really good shake! taste it, add more salt/pepper/oil if needed for taste preferences. Set aside.
- Once pasta is al dente, drain the water and add it to a large serving bowl. Let it cool for a few minutes. Add in all the chopped ingredients, cheese, and cilantro. Pour 3/4ths of the dressing over the pasta and mix well!
- Once the salad is mixed, taste it and add more dressing if desired. Top with additional cilantro for garnish and avocado slices (just before serving!)
Notes
*this is just a little less than a full box. Cook the full box of pasta (16 oz) and take 1 cup of the cooked pasta out. You can leave it in if you want, but I prefer to take it out so the salad is more topping heavy.
*any pasta shape will work. I find that rotini/fusilli holds the most mix ins and dressing.
*fresh parsley will also work.
* if you don't like dijon, use mayonnaise.
To make vegan, skip the cheese or use a vegan alternative.
This will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Bring to room temperature before serving for the best results.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cup of pasta | Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 549mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 599IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg