Name: Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar (I like using red); 1 1/2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese (Note 1); 1 tbsp sugar (any); 1 large garlic clove, minced; 1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano; 1/4 tsp dried parsley; 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) (optional); 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 300g/10oz spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice; 180g/6oz thick sliced salami, cut into 2.5cm/1″ batons (see photo in post or videos) (I use spicy salami); 200g/7oz baby bocconcini, halved (Note 2); 1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3cm/2.2cm strips; 250g/8oz whole olives (I used Sicilian and pitted black); ▢2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (~1.5 Australian punnets); ▢1 cup (tightly packed) fresh basil leaves

Ingredients

Scale

Italian Dressing

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar (I like using red)
1 1/2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese (Note 1)
1 tbsp sugar (any)
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) (optional)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Pasta Salad

300g/10oz spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice
180g/6oz thick sliced salami, cut into 2.5cm/1″ batons (see photo in post or videos) (I use spicy salami)
200g/7oz baby bocconcini, halved (Note 2)
1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3cm/2.2cm strips
250g/8oz whole olives (I used Sicilian and pitted black)
▢2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (~1.5 Australian punnets)
▢1 cup (tightly packed) fresh basil leaves

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Instructions

Place Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well.
Cook pasta according to packet directions minus 1 minute. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop it cooking further. Shake excess water off well then transfer into large bowl.
Place remaining Pasta Salad ingredients in the bowl. Drizzle over Dressing and toss. Serve at room temperature.

Make ahead PRO TIP (Note 4):

SCOOP OUT a mug of pasta cooking water just before draining. Add 3 tbsp water to Dressing, shake well. Use this Dressing per above, but reserve 3 tbsp to freshen up pasta salad on Day 2 onwards.
Freshen up pasta salad: Bring to room temp or briefly microwave (cold pasta = dry) to warm gently. Toss with Reserved Dressing then serve.