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Classic Italian Pasta Salad with Salami & Olives

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A quick and easy Italian pasta salad featuring rotini pasta, savory salami, tangy olives, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for summer parties and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340g) rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 1 cup salami, sliced into bite-sized pieces
  • 3/4 cup pitted black olives, sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini and cook according to package instructions, about 9-11 minutes for al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent clumping.
  2. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
  3. While pasta cools, slice 1 cup of salami into bite-sized pieces. Halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, thinly slice 1/2 cup red onion, chop 1/2 cup green bell pepper, and roughly chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper until fully combined and slightly thickened.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, salami, olives, tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, and parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 4 hours) to allow flavors to meld.
  7. Before serving, give the salad a final gentle toss. Adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or vinegar if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Marinate the salad for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld. Rinsing pasta under cold water stops cooking and prevents mushiness. Use good quality olive oil for best flavor. Adjust seasoning after chilling as flavors mellow. For a vegetarian version, omit salami and add extra olives or sun-dried tomatoes. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make it gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian pasta salad, salami pasta salad, summer pasta salad, easy pasta salad, rotini salad, salami and olives salad, picnic salad, party salad

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/classic-italian-pasta-salad-with-salami-olives-easy-homemade-recipe-for-summer-parties/