Quick & Easy Pasta Salad Recipe

Nothing compares to a bowl of fine and healthy salad as a side – like this hearty pasta salad from Inspired Taste on Youtube. When I tell you it’s the ultimate pasta salad you’ll ever taste, I’m not even kidding. The combination of ingredients used is enough to make this pasta salad supreme. It’s also quick and easy to make – what more can you ask? Watch the video below to learn the full recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dried pasta (fusilli, penne, rotini, or farfalle)
• 1 cup sliced bell pepper (1 medium)
• 1 cup thinly sliced zucchini (1/2 medium)
• 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions (5 – 6)
• 1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers (optional)
• 1 cup (4 oz) halved mixed olives
• 1 cup (2 oz) grated parmesan cheese (or hard cheese)
• 1 cup (6 oz) fresh mozzarella balls (chopped)
• 1/3 cup fresh parsley or basil (optional)

Homemade dressing:

• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar (or white vinegar or champagne vinegar)
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt (plus more to taste)
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 2 – 3 tbsp juice from pepperoncini jar (optional)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:

Step 1

For the homemade dressing. In a large bowl, add 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, 2 – 3 tbsp juice from a pepperoncini jar (optional), 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper. Slowly stream in the 1/2 cup of extra-virgin olive oil while whisking until the dressing is thickened. Toss in the cooked pasta and mix well to combine.

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Step 2

Cut the zucchini into thin slices. Cut the bell pepper into small thin sticks. Thinly sliced both the white and green parts of the scallions. Quarter the big cherry tomatoes then halve the smaller ones. For a pop of flavor, add some pepperoncini and slice them into thin rings. Add all the chopped veggies to the bowl with the pasta. Add the pitted and sliced olives then throw in lots of chopped fresh herbs. (parsley and basil.) Finally, add 1 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 cup fresh chopped mozzarella balls. Toss the pasta salad really well to combine all the ingredients.

Quick & Easy Pasta Salad Recipe