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Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

Name: Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; ¼ cup red or white wine vinegar, red preferred; 1½ tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated; 1 tbsp sugar, any type; 1 large garlic clove, minced; ½ tsp dried basil; ½ tsp dried oregano; ¼ tsp dried parsley; ½ tsp dried chilli flakes, red pepper flakes; optional; ¾ tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper; 300 g (10 oz) spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice; 180 g (6 oz) salami, thick-sliced, cut into 2.5 cm batons; spicy salami preferred; 200 g (7 oz) baby bocconcini, halved; 1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3 cm/2.2 cm strips; 250 g (8 oz) whole olives, Sicilian and pitted black olives are used; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; about 1.5 Australian punnets; 1 cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed

A bowl of Italian pasta salad with spiral pasta, salami, bocconcini, tomatoes, olives, red pepper and basil. — Italian pasta salad tossed with salami, bocconcini, tomatoes, olives and basil.

Spiral pasta, salami, bocconcini, olives, tomatoes and basil come together with a homemade Italian dressing for a colorful salad served at room temperature.

By Cookin' KitchenOctober 22, 2026

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Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 8

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Recipe

Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

Spiral pasta, salami, bocconcini, olives, tomatoes and basil come together with a homemade Italian dressing for a colorful salad served at room temperature.

Cookin' · https://cookin.club/recipes/italian-pasta-salad-with-homemade-italian-dressing

Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 8

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Ingredients

8 servings

For 8 servings

Italian Dressing

½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ cup red or white wine vinegar, red preferred
1½ tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 tbsp sugar, any type
1 large garlic clove, minced
½ tsp dried basil
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp dried parsley
½ tsp dried chilli flakes, red pepper flakes; optional
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

Pasta Salad

300 g (10 oz) spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice
180 g (6 oz) salami, thick-sliced, cut into 2.5 cm batons; spicy salami preferred
200 g (7 oz) baby bocconcini, halved
1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3 cm/2.2 cm strips
250 g (8 oz) whole olives, Sicilian and pitted black olives are used
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved; about 1.5 Australian punnets
1 cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed

Equipment

Jar
Colander
Large bowl

Instructions

Prepare the salad

Step 1: Place the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well.
Step 2: Cook the pasta according to the packet directions, but stop 1 minute early. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop it cooking further. Shake off the excess water well, then transfer the pasta to a large bowl.
Step 3: Add the remaining pasta salad ingredients to the bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss. Serve at room temperature.

Make ahead

Step 4: Just before draining the pasta, scoop out a mug of pasta cooking water. Add 3 tbsp water to the dressing and shake well. Use the dressing as above, reserving 3 tbsp to freshen the pasta salad from Day 2 onward.
Step 5: To freshen the pasta salad, bring it to room temperature or briefly microwave it to warm gently. Toss with the reserved dressing, then serve.

Notes

Ingredient notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan in the dressing so it dissolves. If using store-bought pre-grated Parmesan, sprinkle it over the salad instead.
Any size bocconcini works; cut larger pieces into small pieces.
Use sliced olives if preferred.

To make a standby Italian dressing, use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.

The salad keeps well for the next day; bring it to room temperature or warm it briefly before serving with reserved dressing.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 430 kcal

Estimated values; they will vary with the exact ingredients and brands you use.

Italian cuisine

Dinners
Salads
Pasta & Noodles
basil
chilli flakes
olive oil
party
picnic

About this recipe

This Italian pasta salad combines salami, bocconcini, olives, tomatoes and basil with a homemade dressing flavored with dried herbs, garlic, vinegar, olive oil and Parmesan.

Sliced salami beside small bocconcini balls on a cutting board. — Salami and bocconcini, two ingredients for the pasta salad.

Serve it at room temperature. For a make-ahead batch, reserve some dressing to freshen the salad before serving leftovers.

Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing