Description
This vibrant pasta salad features chewy bow tie pasta, creamy mozzarella balls, and crisp veggies tossed in a tangy homemade Italian dressing. It’s quick to prepare, endlessly customizable, and perfect for picnics, potlucks, or easy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz bow tie pasta (farfalle), uncooked
- 8 oz mozzarella balls (ciliegine or bocconcini), drained
- 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, sliced (optional)
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped (optional)
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add bow tie pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly with cold water. Let cool.
- While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber and red bell pepper, finely chop red onion (soak in cold water if desired), and slice Kalamata olives if using.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, sea salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Drain mozzarella balls. If large, cut into halves or quarters. Toss with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil for extra creaminess.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, mozzarella, basil, and parsley. Pour dressing over and gently toss to coat.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or vinegar as needed. Cover and chill for at least 20 minutes before serving, or serve immediately.
- If making ahead, reserve some dressing to refresh the salad before serving.
Notes
For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. For vegan, swap mozzarella for plant-based cheese and honey for maple syrup. Chill salad for at least 20 minutes for best flavor. If salad seems dry after chilling, add a splash of olive oil or reserved dressing. Customize with seasonal veggies or add grilled chicken or chickpeas for extra protein.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1 1/2 cups (200g) per serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 13
Keywords: pasta salad, Italian salad, bow tie pasta, mozzarella, summer salad, picnic, potluck, vegetarian, easy dinner, creamy dressing