Everyone needs a “go to” pasta salad recipe and this is mine: an Italian Pasta Salad with a Homemade Italian Dressing, loaded with all things Italian: salami, olives, bocconcini, tomatoes and basil.
An essential for hot summer nights, quick mid week meals, make ahead lunches and gatherings!
Italian Pasta Salad recipe
I was inspired to make this because I went on a Salami Bender* after the Salami Cream Cheese Roll I shared a couple of weeks ago.
I could never be a food magazine editor or similar. Because a proper editor would ensure that a variety of recipes and ingredients are used. Whereas I find or am reminded of something that I love that I haven’t used “enough” of lately and I go on a Bender*.
And my dear readers get sent two salami recipes within a fortnight, the first and only two in the history of RecipeTin Eats!
* Is it just Aussies that use the term “bender” to describe a wild drinking spree??? Appropriate to apply to the current salami spree I’m on!
What goes in Italian Pasta Salad
Despite my excessive salami talk, Italian Pasta Salad does have things in it other than salami!
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salami
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Bocconcini (I used baby ones) which are just small balls of fresh mozzarella (they’re available at all supermarkets in Australia)
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cherry tomatoes
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capsicum
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olives (I use Sicilian because it’s on-theme and pitted black ones too)
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basil; and
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pasta (duh!)
Pasta Salad Dressing
This Italian dressing is one of my all time favourite Pasta Salad Dressings. Dried herbs, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, a touch of sugar, pinch of red pepper and the secret ingredient – parmesan cheese.
The parmesan just dissolves into the dressing and adds that extra flavour edge that makes anything you pour it over totally irresistible!
TIP: Make a standby Italian Dressing recipe that you can keep on hand just by using garlic powder rather than fresh garlic!
This is a cold pasta salad
This is a cold pasta salad recipe to be served at room temperature or slightly chilled which makes it ideal to make ahead for midweek meals, taking to gatherings, work lunches and buffet spreads.
All that colour.
All that goodness. No one can resist it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing recipe video! (I realised it’s not a hard recipe, but it just looks oh-so-good) (PS The dressing clip is from my long shelf life Italian Dressing recipe so it doesn’t have fresh garlic in it, but that’s the only difference).
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Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Ingredients
Italian Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar (I like using red)
- 1 1/2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese (Note 1)
- 1 tbsp sugar (any)
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano
- 1/4 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) (optional)
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Pasta Salad
- 300g/10oz spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice
- 180g/6oz thick sliced salami, cut into 2.5cm/1" batons (see photo in post or videos) (I use spicy salami)
- 200g/7oz baby bocconcini, halved (Note 2)
- 1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3cm/2.2cm strips
- 250g/8oz whole olives (I used Sicilian and pitted black) (Note 3)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (~1.5 Australian punnets)
- 1 cup (tightly packed) fresh basil leaves
Instructions
- Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well.
- Cook pasta according to packet directions minus 1 minute. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop it cooking further. Shake excess water off well then transfer into large bowl.
- Place remaining Pasta Salad ingredients in the bowl. Drizzle over Dressing and toss. Serve at room temperature.
Make ahead PRO TIP (Note 4):
- SCOOP OUT a mug of pasta cooking water just before draining. Add 3 tbsp water to Dressing, shake well. Use this Dressing per above, but reserve 3 tbsp to freshen up pasta salad on Day 2 onwards.
- Freshen up pasta salad: Bring to room temp or briefly microwave (cold pasta = dry) to warm gently. Toss with Reserved Dressing then serve.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
MORE SUMMER SALADS to take to gatherings
- Potato Salad and Lemon Potato Salad
- Pearl Couscous Salad <– personal fave!
- Wild Rice Salad <– reader fave!
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Caesar Salad <– take components, quick to assemble, BIG HIT!
- 12 Minute Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad
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Browse all Pasta Salads and Rice Salad
LIFE OF DOZER
The time I shaved him… also the time I made him run around with a bandana on…
This was a few years ago, I thought he looked dashing (and practical) but everyone mocked him!?
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All your recipes are amazing!! This one is definately a salami favourite. Mum sent me your dinner cookbook last year and I only use your recipes for everything ever since xxx
My favorite pasta salad. Thank you very much for the recipe.
Absolutely delicious! Made it for two different gatherings and everyone ate it up both times!
Thanks for the tip so pasta salad doesn’t dry out so much!
Just the thing as it’s sooo hot here in Greece! Wonderful dressing! I used crumbled, locally made Feta Cheese instead of Mozzarella & added a few capers & sliced spring onions….yummy. Thanks Nagi!
I still use this dressing recipe weekly after a couple of years. Every time I take it to a gathering everyone asks for the recipe. This is some good stuff, Nagi!
Sounds amazing Linda!
Since I got this recipe I have made it many times. Great to take to friends. Now they are making it. Have to admit I now put little extra salami. Tastes even better next day, when there are leftovers…not very often. Thanks for this one.
That’s awesome to hear Diana, it’s so versatile you could add almost anything!
We go on a bender here in Canada, too. I’m sure in the US as well. It usually refers to alcohol but I like the way you use it! Thanks for all your super recipes. We almost died and went to heaven after eating your savoury Cottage Pie. Mmm!
You and me are thinking the same. Got rost chicken for four dollars so made salad out of breast and filling for sandwich. Why not ? Enjoy what you Love.
Sounds perfect Vera! – N x
Can you print these recipes without all the ads printing?
Yes of course! The print button on the recipe card does that 🙂
This is THE best pasta salad I have ever had. I skipped the salami but added artichoke hearts. SOooo yummy!! BUT the print button leads you back to the home page on this recipe….can you please fix that?? Thanks!
I made this for bunco last night and it was a big success! I absolutely loved the dressing it would taste great on a shoe! I made extra to have for the week! Thank you, you are a breathe of fresh air… I enjoy your recipes so much.
😂 Thanks so much Michele!
We really enjoyed this recipe.
Great stuff Rhonda!
Just made this and WOW. I did not expect it to be THIS good. The Italian dressing is fantastic!!
Hurray! I’m so glad you love it!
Made this salad to take to a friends Pizza Party. Everyone adored it and ask for the recipe. The host said it’s the best salad she has ever had (and she cooks… a lot).
The only think I did differently was use brown pasta instead of white.
Delicious.
I’m so glad! Thank you for letting me know Jo! N x
I added chicken & grapes and it is delicious,
That’s terrific Lois! What a great idea 🙂 N x
We have a bicycling after ride pot luck every Friday in the summer. Finding recipes that hold their own among other delicious offerings is a challenge. This one certainly did! I used a very spicy pepper flakes salami that set it off beautifully. The only problem was that there were hardly any leftovers to bring home. This one is a keeper.
I’m from New York and we definitely use the term bender for a wild drinking spree and I laughed so hard at your “salami bender” term😂
I made the pasta salad today, and it is delicious! I followed the recipe to a T. It was exactly what I had a hankering for. The addition of the crushed red pepper took it over the top. Thank you!
Terrific to hear Carlotta! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it – N x
My husband and I enjoy the Italian Pasta Salad from our local supermarket but it’s quite expensive for not a lot of salad. I went searching for a recipe with lots of great comments and came across yours.
Made it up today. WOW – it’s fantastic!! It’s now on my go-to recipe list and DH said it was way better than the supermarket deli one.
Instead of using dried herbs, I bought a tube of Italian herb paste and used that instead. Also didn’t have Parmesan cheese so just used a grated tasty cheese mixed into the pasta.
Thanks for this. I’m off to explore more of your recipes.
That’s terrific to hear Michelle! Thanks for taking the time to let me know – N x
This was great. I left out the salami and unfortunately the bocconcini i used was bland and rubbery (i’ll try a different brand next time) but despite that it was still delicious because that dressing is so amazing! It was even more delicious the next day for lunch. I will be making this one again.
That’s terrific to hear Schmoops! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review – N x
This is a wonderful recipe for Italian dressing. I downloaded it and gave it to my wife since she’s the salad person in our family. She prepared a jar and put it on a mixed green salad and it was killer. We now have a jar on the shelf constantly.
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I’m so happy to hear that Don! Thanks for sharing your feedback – N x ❤️