Flavorful Antipasto Pasta Salad with Salami and Mozzarella
A quick and easy Italian-inspired pasta salad featuring salami, fresh mozzarella, and a tangy Italian dressing, perfect for summer parties and potlucks.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces rotini or penne pasta, cooked al dente
- 8 ounces sliced Genoa salami, cut into bite-size pieces
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls or small balls, drained
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
- ½ cup roasted red peppers, sliced
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
- ½ cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- A handful fresh basil, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain thoroughly.
- While pasta cooks, slice 8 ounces Genoa salami into bite-size pieces. Halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, pit and slice ½ cup Kalamata olives, chop ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, and slice ½ cup roasted red peppers. Thinly slice ¼ cup red onion if using, and chop a handful of fresh basil leaves.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with salami, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes, roasted peppers, red onion, and basil. Pour ½ cup Italian dressing over the salad.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly coated. Taste and adjust with salt and pepper if needed (remember, salami and olives add saltiness, so go easy).
- For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld (optional).
Notes
Do not overcook pasta; al dente texture is key. Rinse pasta well under cold water and drain thoroughly to prevent sogginess. Use fresh mozzarella pearls for best texture. Adjust salt carefully due to salty ingredients like salami and olives. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Add a spoonful of pesto or drizzle olive oil for creamier texture if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: antipasto pasta salad, salami pasta salad, mozzarella pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, summer pasta salad, easy pasta salad, party salad