My life requires easy right now and this Italian Pasta Salad is easy, and delicious. I love pasta and I love salad, so pretty often I put them together into one and call it a day.
If you routinely follow a Mediterranean diet, you probably have all these ingredients already in the house. Even if you just like to eat tasty food, you probably have most of these ingredients.
I make a salad on most days of the week. It’s the perfect way to get a lot of nutrition in one place without much fuss. I have also been very aware of how many greens I am getting during the day and aim for greens (spinach, kale, dark lettuce, etc.) for at least one meal in the day.
Great Way to Get More Greens
Salads like this are also the of the best ways for me to get more greens and veggies into my kids. They don’t mind that it’s all mixed together — who doesn’t love a little spinach mixed with salami? No one in my house is complaining about this salad.
If spinach is not your green of choice, you could always add some chopped romaine to this, or baby kale — both would work beautifully!
A Dream for a Make-Ahead Meal
This Italian Pasta Salad keeps and travels well. Do you have a potluck to get to? Or do you need to pack a meal for dinner on the go? This is a great one. The pasta soaks up the dressing and if you use a strong green, they stay strong. I especially like this salad for leftovers to pack for work.
Print
Italian Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon whole grain dijon mustard
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon dried onion
1/2 teaspoon dried garlic granules
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salad Ingredients
2 cups dry pasta
2 packed cups baby spinach
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cubed salami (cut into 1/8″ cubes)
1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup pitted and sliced kalamata olives
Instructions
Add the dressing ingredients to the bottom of a serving bowl and whisk together.
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, and add to the dressing.
On top of the warm pasta, add spinach and parmesan cheese and toss with the pasta.
Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently.
Serve at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes