Description
Bow tie Italian pasta salad combines classic Mediterranean flavors with fresh ingredients for a delightful summer dish. Crisp vegetables, tangy dressing, and perfectly cooked pasta create a refreshing meal you’ll crave at picnics and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) gluten-free bow tie/farfalle pasta
- 5 ounces (142 grams) dry or hard salami, chopped
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pepperoni, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices, then chopped
- 16 ounces (453 grams) mozzarella pearls (or whole mozzarella cheese, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces)
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 large English cucumber, chopped
- 10 ounces (283 grams) grape or cherry tomatoes
- 6 ounces (170 grams) can black olives
- 2 14-ounce (794 grams) cans artichoke hearts, drained
- 1/2 cup (30 grams) chopped fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup (7 grams) chopped fresh basil
Dressing:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) fresh lemon juice
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil pasta in generously salted water, extending cooking time by two minutes beyond package recommendations for al dente texture. Immediately drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Meticulously chop all accompanying ingredients while pasta cools, ensuring uniform and bite-sized pieces for optimal flavor distribution.
- Create a harmonious dressing by vigorously whisking ingredients until they seamlessly blend and emulsify, developing a smooth and consistent texture.
- Transfer cooled pasta to an expansive mixing vessel, introducing chopped ingredients with precision and care.
- Drizzle prepared dressing over pasta mixture, gently tossing to guarantee thorough and even coating of each component.
- Seal container and refrigerate for minimum two hours, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Overnight chilling produces most robust taste profile, enabling ingredients to marinate and develop complex flavor nuances.
Notes
- Enhance pasta texture by cooking slightly longer than package instructions for a more robust bite.
- Rinse pasta thoroughly with cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping, ensuring a perfect chilled salad consistency.
- Customize the salad by swapping ingredients to accommodate dietary preferences like vegetarian, gluten-free, or low-carb options.
- Maximize flavor development by allowing the salad to marinate overnight, letting ingredients blend and intensify their taste profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 530
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 16g
- Cholesterol: 40mg