• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Meal Planner
  • Subscribe

Framed Recipes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Recipes
  • Meal Planner
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Us
    • Recipes
    • Meal Planner
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Italian Pasta Salad

    Published: Apr 29, 2021 · by Sree · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    Refreshing Italian Pasta Salad - with rotini pasta, fresh, crunchy vegetables and loads of flavors.

    This has fresh ingredients and is easily customizable to include your favorites.

    I love this because it is a wonderful make-ahead dish and a crowd-pleaser. The recipe is very simple. Perfect for your summer picnics and backyard barbecues. Enjoy!

    cold pasta salad

    Having a few pasta recipes at hand is a lifesaver when you are in a time crunch and have to get dinner ready for the family - from a simple pasta loaded with asparagus to an Indian-inspired one - I have a shared few recipes over time.

    This vegetarian pasta salad with Italian flavors is a summer favorite. Fresh salad with a homemade salad dressing.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • What Kind Of Pasta Works Best?
    • What Vegetables To Use In the Salad?
    • What Kind Of Cheese To Use?
    • More Details About the Salad Dressing
    • Fresh Herbs Or Dried Herbs?
    • Meal Prep Tips & Leftover Ideas
    • How To Cook Pasta In An Instant Pot?
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Additional Notes
    • More Pasta Dishes
    • Italian Pasta Salad

    Ingredients

    Pasta

    Fresh vegetables

    Cheese

    Olive Oil

    Dried herbs

    Red wine vinegar

    Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

    Ingredients for Italian pasta salad - mozzarella cheese, green bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, yellow bell pepper, red onion, salt, pepper, red chilli flakes, oregano, basil, parsley, red wine vinegar and olive oil.
    Ingredients for cold pasta salad - mozzarella cheese, green bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, olives, yellow bell pepper, red onion, salt, pepper, red chilli flakes, oregano, basil, parsley, red wine vinegar and olive oil.

    What Kind Of Pasta Works Best?

    Choose a dried pasta over fresh pasta.

    Think of shapes that have nooks & crannies or spirals that the herbs, spices, etc can stick on to.

    Shorter shapes like farfalle, spiral, Gemelli, rotini, etc are great pasta shapes to use in a salad.

    Pasta
    Gemelli Pasta

    In this recipe, I have used rotini. To give more color to the salad, I used the tri-color rotini pasta

    You can experiment with gluten-free pasta if you are following a gluten-free diet. There are some high protein pasta in the market if you want to include them in your diet.

    What Vegetables To Use In the Salad?

    Think of colorful fresh vegetables that you want to include in your diet - bell peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, onions, etc.

    In my made-from-scratch pasta salad, I use green & yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, onion, olives, cherry tomatoes to make the salad fresh, colorful & refreshing.

    TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR VEGETABLES

    -Always use fresh vegetables for the best results. Do not use wilted or vegetables, not at their peak of freshness in any salad.

    Cucumbers - Use English cucumber or Persian cucumbers. If you cannot find these, then you may use regular cucumbers, but remove the seeds.

    Tomatoes - They are juicy, colorful, fresh, and kinda sweet. Definitely a good ingredient to use in the pasta salad. I recommend using cherry or grape tomatoes for the best results. If you are planning to use regular tomatoes, then deseed them before chopping.

    Onions - I like finely chopped red onions for this recipe.

    Deseeding watery vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes, etc prevents a soggy, runny pasta salad.

    -Dice the vegetables small so that you can handle the salad well with your fork.

    -I also use some pitted black olives - they add a lot of flavor to the salad.

    Find the perfect balance between the vegetables & pasta.

    closer view of pasta salad ingredients in a bowl just before mixing.
    closer view of pasta salad

    What Kind Of Cheese To Use?

    I use mozzarella cheese in the recipe. I buy a huge chunk of mozzarella from the grocer. Diced small, they add a lot of flavor and freshness, and creaminess in every bite.

    I prefer to use slightly harder mozzarella cheese since it had lesser moisture. It also retains the shape well.

    **TIP**
    Grate the rest of the hard mozzarella, toss it some cornstarch, and freeze for later use.

    colorful vegetables and pasta salad

    More Details About the Salad Dressing

    The salad dressing is the actual embellishment to any salad. Fresh, homemade, zero-waste salad dressing that is easy to make and customize to suit your taste is always a winner.

    A good salad dressing should have a balance of salty, a hint of sweetness, acidity, heat, and flavors - all perfectly balanced according to your taste.

    Saltiness - We have salt & salt from pitted olives.

    Acidity - We are introducing acidity with some red wine vinegar.

    Heat -From red chilli flakes and freshly ground black pepper.

    Flavors - This is an Italian-inspired cold pasta salad - so think herbs that are used predominantly in Italian cuisine - oregano, basil, parsley, etc. If your grocer carries some ready-made Italian seasoning, you can use that too.

    Sweetness - Yes, I did mention a hint of sweetness in the salad dressing. But in this recipe, it actually comes from the vegetables used and not in the dressing. Just a subtle hint of sweetness. :).

    What I like best about this recipe because the salad dressing is pretty simple to put together and we are making it fresh & not wasting any salad dressing. Since we are making it from scratch, you can always adjust the flavors to suit your family's taste.

    delicious pasta salad ready to be refrigerated.

    Fresh Herbs Or Dried Herbs?

    This is a make-ahead salad that you can prepare ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to use. The flavors develop over time.

    I do not recommend using fresh herbs in this recipe. Fresh herbs wilt and give a limp look to your salads.

    Dried herbs have a ton of flavor and blend very well with the other ingredients in this recipe.

    pasta salad perfect for summer picnics or barbecues.

    Meal Prep Tips & Leftover Ideas

    This is an ideal make-ahead salad that develops more flavor with time. Once you mix the salad, refrigerate it for at least 4-6 hours (overnight for best results) before serving.

    Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

    How To Cook Pasta In An Instant Pot?

    Until I got my instant pot, I used to cook pasta on the stovetop just followed the instructions on the package. The trick to the pasta dishes is to keep the pasta al-dente.

    Instant pot changed the pasta game for me :). It is so easy to prepare pasta in my Instant Pot, that now I regularly use my Instant Pot to cook pasta dishes.

    I have outlined how to cook pasta in my cajun pasta recipe - following the same principle, the rotini pasta takes about 3 minutes to get done. [Assuming the cooking time on the stovetop for the rotini pasta is 7 minutes].

    The above method ensures perfect al-dente pasta every single time.

    Serving Suggestions

    This can be served as a side dish for your barbecues, meat dishes, shrimp dishes, etc.

    Serve a baguette or crusty bread to make a wholesome meal.

    I love this Pan-seared corn along with my pasta salad.

    Additional Notes

    • 1 CUP = 250 ML. (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use US cups with no significant change to the dish)
    • Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.
    • Serving size – 8 OZ pasta typically serves 3-4 people. Since this is served as a side dish, this might serve more people. Adjust the serving size to suit your dietary needs.
    • This is a pretty forgiving recipe. You can adjust the vegetables & seasonings ingredients to taste.
    • Skip the red chilli flakes if you do not like them.
    • Taste as you go. Add more or less of the dressing ingredients as per your taste.

    More Pasta Dishes

    Cajun Spiced Pasta

    Indian Masala Pasta

    Spinach Alfredo Pasta

    Pasta with Fresh Asparagus

    Penne with Vegetables & Sundried Tomato Pesto

    pasta salad perfect for summer picnics or barbecues.

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Refreshing Italian Pasta Salad - with rotini pasta, fresh, crunchy vegetables, and loads of flavors.

    This has fresh, healthy ingredients and is easily customizable to include your favorites.

    I love this because it is a wonderful make-ahead dish and a crowd-pleaser. The recipe is very simple. Perfect for your summer picnics and backyard barbecues. Enjoy!

    Print Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 3 minutes
    Additional Time 4 hours
    Total Time 4 hours 18 minutes
    Servings 4 -6

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz rotini pasta

    to cook pasta

    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 cups water

    for the salad

    • 125 grams approx. ¾-1 cup English cucumber/Persian Cucumber; diced small
    • 150 grams 1 cup mozzarella; diced small
    • 50 grams approx. (½ cup yellow bell pepper
    • 100 grams approx. ¾-1 cupgreen bell pepper; diced small
    • 100-120 grams 10-12 numbers cherry tomatoes; quartered
    • 50 grams approx. ½ cuponion; finely chopped
    • 8-10 pitted olives; diced small

    salad Dressing

    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • ½ teaspoon red chilli flakes; optional
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions
     

    how to make pasta salad

      cook pasta

      • Add pasta to the steel pot of the Instant Pot. Add salt, olive oil, and water. Give a quick stir. Latch the Instant Pot lid. Steam release valve in the SEALING position. PRESSURE COOK (MANUAL MODE in some models) for 3 minutes. (Note: assuming the pasta cooks in 7 minutes on the stovetop). Quick pressure release. [Be careful here. There might be heavy foam build-up]. Drain the pasta to the bowl and pour some cold water to fully cover the pasta. Set aside to cool.

      salad

      • Drain the cold pasta into a large mixing bowl. To the mixing bowl, add cucumber, tomatoes, green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, mozzarella, onion, and olives.
      • Top with dressing ingredients - olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, parsley, basil, red chilli flakes (if using), salt, and pepper to taste.
      • Mix everything well. Do a taste test and adjust any seasonings to suit your taste.
      • Cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate for at least 2-4 hours (or overnight for best results).
      • Transfer to a serving bowl. Refrigerate leftovers.

      Video

      Notes

      • 1 CUP = 250 ML. (US cups are typically 240 ml. You can use US cups with no significant change to the dish)
      • Grams to cups measurements – we strive to provide these conversions as accurately as possible. There might be some slight variations depending on the brand, weighing scale, etc.
      • Serving size – 8 OZ pasta typically serves 3-4 people. Since this is served as a side dish, this might serve more people.
      • This is a pretty forgiving recipe. You can adjust the vegetables & seasonings ingredients to taste.
      • Skip the red chilli flakes if you do not like them.
      • Taste as you go. Add more or less of the dressing ingredients as per your taste.
      • prep time - time required to chop the vegetables and get everything ready. cook time - time required to cook the pasta (plan for a few additional minutes for the instant pot to reach full pressure). additional time - time to refrigerate the salad for the flavors to develop.
      « Easy Egg Omelet Recipes
      Meal Plan Number 7 »

      Reader Interactions

      If you tried this recipe, please consider giving us a star rating and feedback. Reviewing, leaving feedback, and star rating a recipe, not only helps me grow as a food blogger but also helps others discover my blog. I L-O-V-E to hear from you! :) Your email address will not be published. Thank you for your support! When leaving a comment on framedrecipes, you will be asked to enter your name and email address. This is to help prevent spam comments. Your name will be displayed with the comment, but your email address will not. If you prefer not to display your real name, using a nickname or pseudonyms is perfectly OK. You will also see an option to save your information for future comments – this function uses a cookie to store the information on your browser. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Sree - the blogger

      Hi! I am Sree and welcome to my sweet little corner of the internet! Good Food = Good Mood! This blog is all about celebrating good food – from desi (Indian) to videshi (global). 

      More about me →

      New Recipes

      • sweet potato salad with chickpeas & arugula with home made dressing
        Roasted Sweet Potato Salad With Arugula
      • lady holding a cup of delicious pumpkin bisque
        Pumpkin Coconut Bisque
      • weekly meal plan number 9 featured image
        Meal Plan Number 9
      • lady holding a jar of apple butter
        Apple Butter

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Disclaimer

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Contact

      Got a query? Need help with a recipe? Want to request a recipe? Or just want to say Hi?

      Email Us: [email protected]

      As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2022 Framed Recipes

      We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
      Do not sell my personal information.Read More.
      Cookie settingsACCEPT
      Privacy & Cookie Settings

      Privacy Overview

      This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
      Necessary
      Always Enabled
      Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
      CookieDurationDescription
      __cfduid1 monthThe cookie is used by cdn services like CloudFare to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address and apply security settings on a per-client basis. It does not correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information.
      cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
      cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
      cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-advertisement1 yearThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Advertisement".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
      cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
      viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
      Functional
      Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
      CookieDurationDescription
      __cf_bm30 minutesThis cookie is set by CloudFare. The cookie is used to support Cloudfare Bot Management.
      Performance
      Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
      CookieDurationDescription
      YSCsessionThis cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos.
      Analytics
      Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
      CookieDurationDescription
      _ga2 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, campaign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assign a randomly generated number to identify unique visitors.
      _gid1 dayThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the website is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages visted in an anonymous form.
      Advertisement
      Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
      CookieDurationDescription
      IDE1 year 24 daysUsed by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
      test_cookie15 minutesThis cookie is set by doubleclick.net. The purpose of the cookie is to determine if the user's browser supports cookies.
      VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE5 months 27 daysThis cookie is set by Youtube. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website.
      Others
      Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
      CookieDurationDescription
      _gat_gtag_UA_49569906_11 minuteNo description
      CONSENT16 years 9 months 8 days 3 hoursNo description
      SAVE & ACCEPT
      Powered by CookieYes Logo
      x

      Subscribe to our newsletter!

      We share new recipes every week. These are tried, tested, and framed recipes. From my kitchen to your inbox. Subscribe to enjoy them!