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Family Style Pasta Salad

Delicious Family Style Pasta Salad for Every Summer Gathering

This Family Style Pasta Salad is perfect for summer gatherings, packed with fresh vegetables and customizable dressings.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 8 ounces Rotini Pasta or fusilli or penne
For the Vegetables
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes or halved grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup Cucumber preferably English cucumbers
  • 1 bell pepper Bell Pepper any sweet variety
  • 1/4 cup Red Onion or green onions for milder flavor
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley or basil or dill
For the Dressing
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper
  • 1/4 cup Mayonnaise optional for creaminess

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Colander
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • spatula

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually around 8–10 minutes, until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. Once cooked, drain the rotini pasta in a colander and immediately rinse it under cold running water. Allow it to drain thoroughly while you prepare the vegetables.
  3. As the pasta cools, chop your vegetables: dice the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion into bite-sized pieces, and finely chop a handful of fresh parsley.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well blended.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled rotini pasta with the chopped vegetables and the prepared dressing. Gently toss everything together.
  6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the salad to an airtight container. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 400mgPotassium: 200mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

Notes

For best results, allow the salad to chill for at least 1 hour before serving to deepen flavors. Adjust dressing ingredients to suit your taste.

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