Simple Italian Pasta Salad with Creamy Dressing

Craving a quick, delicious, and healthy meal? Look no further than this simple pasta salad recipe with Italian dressing. This dish is perfect for a light lunch, a side at your next BBQ, or meal prepping for the week. Let's dive into this versatile and flavorful recipe.

Pasta salad is a crowd-pleaser, and with the right combination of ingredients and a tangy Italian dressing, it can be a star of any gathering. This recipe uses simple, readily available ingredients, making it an excellent choice for busy weeknights or impromptu get-togethers.

Gathering Your Ingredients

Before you start cooking, ensure you have all the necessary ingredients. This recipe is quite forgiving, so feel free to swap or add ingredients based on your preferences or what you have on hand.

Here's a list of ingredients you'll need:

• 12 oz (340g) pasta (like rotini, penne, or fusilli)
• 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup (115g) pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
• 1 cup (115g) crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup (15g) chopped fresh basil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Choosing the Right Pasta

Selecting the right pasta shape is crucial for a great pasta salad. Small, compact shapes like rotini, penne, or fusilli work best as they hold the dressing well and are easy to eat.

Additionally, using a good quality pasta ensures better texture and taste. Opt for brands that use high-quality ingredients and offer a variety of shapes.

Preparing the Vegetables

For the best flavor, use fresh, in-season vegetables. Cherry or grape tomatoes are perfect for this salad as they're sweet and juicy. If you're using larger tomatoes, seed and dice them to avoid making the salad too watery.

Cucumbers should be diced into small, bite-sized pieces. For a crunchier texture, you can peel the cucumber before dicing. If you prefer a milder flavor, remove the seeds as well.

Making the Italian Dressing

A tangy Italian dressing is the key to elevating this simple pasta salad. This homemade dressing is easy to make and tastes much better than store-bought versions.

Here's what you'll need for the dressing:

• 1/2 cup (120ml) extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp (5ml) dried oregano
• 1 tsp (5ml) dried basil
• 1 tsp (5ml) Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp (5ml) honey or agave syrup (optional, to balance acidity)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Whisking the Dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, Dijon mustard, honey (if using), salt, and black pepper until well combined.

Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can make the dressing up to a day in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Assembling the Pasta Salad

Once your pasta is cooked and cooled, it's time to assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, halved tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped red onion, sliced olives, and crumbled feta cheese.

Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta salad and gently toss until all the ingredients are well coated. Be careful not to overmix, as you don't want to break up the pasta or make the salad too watery.

Serving and Storing Your Pasta Salad

This simple pasta salad with Italian dressing is best served chilled or at room temperature. For a more substantial meal, you can add grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu to make it a complete protein-packed dish.

To store leftovers, transfer the pasta salad to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the pasta may absorb some of the dressing and become slightly drier over time. You can refresh the salad by adding a little more dressing before serving.

Enjoy this simple, delicious, and versatile pasta salad recipe with Italian dressing at your next meal or gathering. Happy cooking!