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Easy Zesty Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

easy zesty italian bow tie pasta salad - featured image
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A quick and refreshing pasta salad featuring bow tie pasta, fresh veggies, and a homemade zesty Italian dressing, perfect for summer parties and casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) bow tie pasta (farfalle)
  • 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup (about 8 ounces/225 grams) fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine), halved
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
  • Italian Dressing:
  • ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) red wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water (about 4 quarts/3.8 liters) to a boil. Add 12 ounces (340 grams) of bow tie pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually 10-12 minutes, until al dente.
  2. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. Shake off excess water and transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) red wine vinegar, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until well combined and slightly emulsified.
  4. Halve 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, pit and halve ½ cup Kalamata olives, dice 1 medium green bell pepper, finely chop ¼ cup red onion, and roughly chop ¼ cup fresh basil leaves.
  5. Add the chopped veggies and 1 cup (225 grams) halved fresh mozzarella balls to the cooled pasta. Pour the dressing over the mixture.
  6. Gently toss everything together until the pasta and veggies are evenly coated with dressing. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 4 hours) to let the flavors meld.
  7. Before serving, give the salad a quick stir and adjust seasoning with extra salt or pepper if needed. Garnish with a few whole basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Cook pasta al dente to avoid mushiness. Rinse pasta with cold water to stop cooking and cool it for salad. Use good-quality olive oil for best flavor. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld. Make ahead for deeper flavor. Customize with proteins or extra veggies as desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, bow tie pasta salad, summer salad, easy pasta salad, zesty Italian dressing, picnic recipe, party salad

Find it online: https://larameals.com/easy-zesty-italian-bow-tie-pasta-salad-recipe-perfect-for-summer-parties/