Description
Mediterranean Pasta Salad brings zesty Mediterranean flavors to your summer gathering, combining fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and tangy feta cheese. Perfect for picnics or potlucks, you’ll love this colorful and refreshing dish that serves a hungry group with ease.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 pounds (1.81 kilograms) multi-colored rotini pasta
- 40 ounces (1.13 kilograms) cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 32 ounces (907 grams) mozzarella cheese (cut into small cubes)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 3 green bell peppers (diced)
- 3 red bell peppers (diced)
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 64 ounces (1.89 liters) Italian dressing
- 36 ounces (1.02 kilograms) sliced black olives (drained)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Boil rotini pasta in a large pot of salted water at 212°F for 8-10 minutes until al dente, following package cooking instructions.
- Immediately drain pasta in a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water to halt cooking and prevent sticking.
- Transfer cooled pasta to an oversized mixing bowl, ensuring ample space for ingredient incorporation.
- Drizzle Italian dressing generously over pasta, then season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Gently fold dressing and seasonings into pasta using a long-handled wooden spoon, ensuring even coating.
- Sprinkle mozzarella cheese cubes throughout the pasta mixture, creating consistent cheese distribution.
- Add chopped cherry tomatoes, diced green and red bell peppers, and sliced black olives to the pasta.
- Mix all ingredients carefully, ensuring each pasta piece is coated with dressing and intermingled with vegetables and cheese.
- Transfer pasta salad into large foil containers for convenient storage and transportation.
- Securely cover containers with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, then refrigerate for minimum 2 hours or overnight.
- Prior to serving, taste and refresh salad with additional Italian dressing if needed to maintain moisture.
- Serve chilled directly from refrigerator for optimal flavor and texture.
Notes
- Rinse pasta thoroughly with cold water to prevent overcooking and maintain a firm texture.
- Choose room temperature ingredients for better flavor blending and more vibrant taste profile.
- Customize the salad by swapping mozzarella with feta or adding protein like grilled chicken for a heartier version.
- Experiment with fresh herbs like basil or parsley to elevate the overall taste and add a bright, fresh dimension.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 20
- Calories: 378
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 574 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg