- We Learned to Cook
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
This Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is the perfect compliment to any summer meal! You'll love the peppered salami, mozzarella pearls, colorful red and green bell peppers and zesty Italian flavors all mixed with tender, tri-color rotini pasta!
There are a zillion and one pasta salad recipes out there. What we like about this one is the abundance of zesty Italian flavors. Using Italian dressing in pasta salad is nothing new, but the addition of dry zesty Italian salad dressing mix really puts this one over the top and gives it a depth of flavor other pasta salads seem to lack.
There are NEVER leftovers when we bring Zesty Italian Pasta Salad to a barbecue or picnic. The beauty of this dish is there are only 8 simple ingredients. You can make it in under 30 minutes, but it will taste like you spent all day slaving over it!
The base for our salad is tri-color rotini pasta. Do you have to use tri-color rotini? Absolutely not. Is it as much fun without the colors? Absolutely not! One of the great things about this recipe is that it's not only pleasing to the taste buds, it's pleasing to the eye. The vibrant colors of the pasta, the red and green bell peppers and even the white mozzarella pearls make this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad stand out amongst the sea of sides at your next barbecue.
Another unique ingredient in this dish is peppered salami. A lot of recipes call for salami or summer sausage, but the peppered salami gives each bite an extra kick that pairs well with the zesty Italian flavors.
Our recipe calls for two different kinds of cheese. The first is mozzarella pearls. These come in various sizes but we like the smaller size, sometimes called 'little ones.' They're bite size and easier to eat than larger pearls. If you can't find mozzarella pearls you can easily substitute with string cheese and just cut the sticks into small pieces.
The second variety of cheese is grated parmesan. We buy it already grated from the store but grating it fresh off the block is never a bad thing. The parmesan is mostly a garnish, but it does add a bit of extra flavor to the salad.
What we like about Zesty Italian Pasta Salad!
Nicole - I think the rotini pasta is cute lol! It reminds me of the spiral mac and cheese we used to love as kids. It's also a perfect easy dish to bring when you get a last-minute invite to a bbq or picnic.
Mike - Remember the Chunky Soup commercials? 'The soup that eats like a meal.' Well this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad eats like a feast. Most of the time I would prefer a second helping of this side dish over the main course.
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad Ingredients
12 oz. tri-color rotini pasta
1/2 green bell pepper chopped
1/2 red bell pepper chopped
8 oz. uncured peppered salami
8 oz. mozzarella pearls
1 cup zesty Italian dressing
(3) 6 oz. packets of zesty Italian dressing mix
1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
How to make Zesty Italian Pasta Salad.
Add 12 oz. tri-color rotini pasta to a large pot of water and boil for 10-15 minutes
Dice red and green bell peppers into bite size pieces
Dice peppered salami into bite size pieces
When pasta is cooked, strain and give it a quick rinse with cold water
Transfer cooked pasta to a serving bowl and add salami, peppers and mozzarella pearls
Add 1 cup of zesty Italian dressing to bowl and mix thoroughly
Add (3) 6 oz. packets of dry Italian dressing to bowl and mix thoroughly
Garnish with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours
Tips and Tricks
If you can't find mozzarella pearls, you can substitute with string cheese. Simply cut 3 or 4 sticks into bite size pieces and add to your salad.
Cook your pasta a little past al dente but not so it's mushy. When you cool pasta it tends to firm up, so if you cook it a little more than normal, the past will firm up to the al dente stage when cooled.
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad is best served at room temperature. If you're just removing it from the refrigerator, let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
After straining your pasta, don't run under cold water forever. If your pasta is slightly warm it will tend to absorb the flavor of the dressing more efficiently.
Let your pasta water boil before adding the pasta. Adding pasta early can result in noodles that are gluey.
FAQs
What should I serve with Zesty Italian Pasta Salad? Where to begin... This dish can be served with almost any barbecue or picnic-type dishes. Burgers, steaks, sandwiches and chicken are all excellent entrees that complement this recipe perfectly.
How long will Zesty Italian Pasta Salad last in the refrigerator? This dish will last up to 3 days refrigerated. Just make sure you store it in an airtight container.
What if I can't find mozzarella pearls? No worries! Just use string cheese and cut 3 or 4 sticks into bite-size pieces.
Do I have to use peppered salami? Nope. You can use regular salami or even summer sausage with great results.
How long can this dish sit out at room temperature? This pasta salad can sit at room temperature safely for up to 2 hours. If you're outside and the temperature is above 90 degrees that time decreases to 1 hour.
