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A vibrant bowl of fresh pasta salad with colorful vegetables.

Proven way to grow 5-star Pasta SaladPasta Salad

This recipe provides a proven method to create a 5-star pasta salad. It is designed to be a crowd-pleaser with its balanced flavors and textures.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 16 ounces short pasta
Vegetables and Herbs
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cucumber seeded and diced
  • 0.5 red onion finely diced
  • 1 bell pepper any color, diced
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
Dressing
  • 0.5 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 0.25 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • large pot
  • colander
  • cutting board
  • knife
  • small bowl
  • whisk
  • large bowl

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool it down.
Preparing the Vegetables
  1. While the pasta cooks, chop the cherry tomatoes, dice the seeded cucumber, finely dice the red onion, dice the bell pepper, and chop the fresh parsley.
Making the Dressing
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Combining Everything
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red onion, diced bell pepper, and chopped fresh parsley.
Final Assembly and Serving
  1. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated; serve immediately or chill for later.

Notes

For best flavor, allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. You can also add other vegetables like olives, artichoke hearts, or feta cheese for variation.