Description
Zesty Tuscan pasta salad brings Mediterranean sunshine to your plate, dancing with fresh herbs and crisp vegetables. Colorful ingredients mingle in a light vinaigrette, promising a refreshing culinary journey you’ll savor with every delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (225 g) rotini or penne pasta
Vegetable and Herb Ingredients:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Flavor and Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup cubed mozzarella or crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Dressing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the foundation by boiling salted water in a large pot and cooking pasta until it reaches the perfect al dente texture, ensuring a slight resistance when bitten.
- Immediately transfer the cooked pasta to a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold water, halting the cooking process and preventing clumping.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by vigorously whisking together fragrant olive oil, tangy red wine vinegar, bright lemon juice, robust Dijon mustard, sweet honey, minced garlic, aromatic Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, create a colorful medley by combining the cooled pasta with juicy cherry tomatoes, tender spinach leaves, briny artichoke hearts, salty Kalamata olives, intensely flavored sun-dried tomatoes, sharp red onion, crumbled cheese, and fresh basil ribbons.
- Drizzle the meticulously prepared dressing over the pasta mixture, gently tossing to ensure each ingredient is luxuriously coated with the zesty vinaigrette.
- Allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes, enabling the flavors to harmonize and intensify, creating a perfectly balanced Mediterranean-inspired dish.
- Serve chilled or at ambient temperature, inviting guests to enjoy the complex layers of flavor and texture in this refreshing Tuscan-style pasta salad.
Notes
- Rinse pasta with cold water immediately after cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain a perfect al dente texture.
- Select high-quality extra virgin olive oil for a more robust and authentic Mediterranean flavor profile.
- Customize the salad by adding grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein, making it a complete meal option.
- Prepare the salad a day ahead to allow flavors to develop more intensely, creating a more delicious and complex taste experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 350 mg