Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Fresh, simple and oh so good— this Zesty Italian Pasta Salad recipe is just the thing for warm spring and summer days, potlucks and get-togethers.
Less than a week ago my husband and I were talking about how nice the weather has been this summer, like unseasonably cool. We were getting such nice cool breezes in the afternoon it seriously felt like fall.
Literally the next day it was 90 degrees and humid. And it has continued to be yucky hot since. Which means my oven use is going to need to be drastically reduced. Enter cold, no-oven-required PASTA SALAD! Like most pasta salad recipes, tt’s easy to make, requires the simplest of ingredients and comes together in no time.
Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, which means if you decide to purchase any of the items linked in this post, I should earn a small commission. This creates no additional cost to you and helps support the work that goes into running The Fig Jar. Thank you! -Becky
Ingredients
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
- Whole wheat spaghetti
- Cherry tomatoes
- Black olives
- Pepperoncini
- Red onion
- Cucumber
- Salami
- Parmesan cheese
- Lemon zest
- Fresh dill
- Fresh parsley
You can certainly use regular spaghetti pasta instead of whole wheat and you could even use a different type of pasta. I just like using spaghetti in this particular pasta salad.
Ingredients for the dressing
- Avocado oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Honey
How to make Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is so easy to make. Anyone can do it! Simple chopping, a little measuring for the dressing, a hand that can stir and you are well on your way to becoming a pasta salad-making pro. But it’s important have have balance, as with any salad. You have to think about having different, but complementary flavor components, like sweet, savory and spicy. And texture components like: crunchy, soft and chewy.
There’s fresh cucumber for that cooling crunchy affect that is so necessary on these hot days.
In-season, fresh tomatoes for color and more fresh flavor.
Pepperoncini, lemon zest and red onion for that zesty sour kick. Grating the red onion ensures it will be the perfect size and won’t be able to over power any bite.
Then we have Parmesan and salami for that savory + chewy element.
Fresh herbs for brightness, beauty and flavor.
And lastly hearty, healthy whole wheat spaghetti to bring it all together, with a delicious, basic Italian dressing (with honey for a little sweetness).
The dressing
The dressing for this pasta salad is super simple. We have lots of flavor going on with all the colorful additions to the salad so I just use a basic vinaigrette:
- Red wine vinegar
- Avocado oil
- Garlic powder
- Honey
- Salt & pepper
That’s it!
Mix it all up, toss with the remaining pasta salad ingredients and you’re ready to eat my friends! I like to put mine in a jar and shake.
More Yummy Pasta Salad Recipes
Treats that go well with Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
- CHAI LIME FIZZY DRINK: Cool, refreshing and bubbly. This drink feels fancy but is so easy to make!
- MANGO CREAM FROZEN TART: A dairy free, no-bake dessert that will make you feel like you took a tropical vacation while sitting on your couch.
If you try this pasta salad recipe, let me know in the comments below or find me on instagram @thefigjar!
PrintZesty Italian Pasta Salad
A delicious and easy italian pasta salad that will quickly become your new go-to.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients
- 12 oz whole wheat spaghetti (about 3/4s of a 16 oz box)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved )
- 2 cups cucumber (sliced into small pieces )
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
- 1/3 cup black olives (sliced)
- 1/4 of one red onion (grated)
- 2/3 cup salami (diced)
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 tbsp fresh basil (chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- zest of one lemon
Dressing
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 2/3 cup avocado oil
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp honey
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Toss a palmful of salt into the boiling water before adding the pasta. Rinse with cool water and drizzle with a small amount of avocado oil (this is in addition to the 1/3 cup in the dressing), set aside.
- Chop veggies, herbs, meat and zest the lemon.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together or shake in a jar.
- Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Tongs work best for mixing. Top with extra fresh herbs, a sprinkle of pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice from the one you zested.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Serving tips: reserve some extra chopped herbs, grated parm for topping. I also like to do an extra sprinkle of pepper, drizzle of oil and maybe a squeez of the lemon I zested.
