Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad
Italian Bowtie Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish made with bowtie pasta, fresh vegetables, salami, and a zesty Italian dressing, perfect for picnics, potlucks, and casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 12 oz bowtie farfalle pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
- 1/2 cup diced salami
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls
- 1 cup Italian dressing
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish optional
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, salami, and mozzarella pearls.
- Pour Italian dressing over the pasta salad and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Toss everything together until well combined and evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.
- Garnish with fresh basil before serving if desired.
Notes
- Substitute pepperoni for salami if preferred.
- Use fresh, high-quality mozzarella for the best flavor.
- Can be made a day ahead for even better flavor development.