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Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

The perfect summer side dish for a BBQ or cookout, this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad with a homemade dressing is packed with flavor!
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 10 people
Calories 422 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the Salad:

  • 1 pound dried pasta rotini or fusilli work the best
  • 1 pint grape tomatoes sliced or halved
  • ½ cup Kalamata olives briefly rinsed and halved
  • ½ cup pepperoni diced
  • ½ cup salami diced
  • ⅔ cup asiago cheese diced
  • 2 small red bell peppers diced
  • 14 oz baby artichoke hearts (1 can) drained and halved or quartered
  • 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese grated

For the Dressing:

  • ½ cup avocado oil or grape seed oil
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 tablespoon dried marjoram
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot of boiling water, add some salt so it tastes like the sea (2 tablespoon of salt for every 6-8 quarts of water). Add the pasta and cook to al dente - no longer (see package directions and also taste the pasta as it cooks).
    1 pound dried pasta
  • Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and blend until it is emulsified.
    ½ cup avocado oil, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, ½ cup water, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon dried marjoram, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • Combine the cooked pasta in a large bowl with the remaining ingredients for the salad, add the dressing and toss gently. Serve!
    1 pint grape tomatoes, ½ cup Kalamata olives, ½ cup pepperoni, ½ cup salami, ⅔ cup asiago cheese, 2 small red bell peppers, 14 oz baby artichoke hearts, 2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Nutrition

Calories: 422kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 12gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 1.518mgPotassium: 355mgFiber: 4gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1.643IUVitamin C: 38mgCalcium: 140mgIron: 2mg
Keyword bbq, pasta salad, pot luck, salad, salad dressing, Summer pasta, Summer recipes
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