Description
This vibrant cold pasta salad is a refreshing dish perfect for summer gatherings, picnics, or light lunches. With colorful rotini, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and a zesty Italian dressing, it creates a delightful blend of flavors and textures that will impress your guests. Easy to prepare and customizable, this salad is sure to become a staple in your recipe collection!
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced (preferably English)
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (mixed colors)
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¾ cup Italian dressing
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- While pasta cooks, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and red onion into bite-sized pieces.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta with chopped vegetables.
- Drizzle the Italian dressing over the mixture and toss well.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese and chopped herbs; gently fold until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Customize your salad by adding proteins like grilled chicken or shrimp for extra nutrition. Experiment with different vegetables or cheeses based on your preference. To prevent soggy vegetables, pat them dry after washing and add just before serving.