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Flavorful Summer Pasta Salad with Salami and Roasted Red Peppers

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A bright and smoky pasta salad featuring rotini, spicy salami, roasted red peppers, fresh herbs, and a tangy vinaigrette. Perfect for summer gatherings and easy to prepare in about 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) rotini or fusilli pasta
  • 6 ounces (170 grams) sliced salami, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 cup (150 grams) roasted red peppers, drained and sliced into strips
  • 1 cup (150 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
  • ½ cup sliced black olives (optional)
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of rotini or fusilli and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to cool for 5-10 minutes.
  2. While pasta cooks, chop 6 ounces of salami into bite-sized pieces, slice 1 cup of roasted red peppers into strips, halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, finely chop ¼ cup of red onion, chop ¼ cup of fresh basil, and slice ½ cup of black olives if using.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 minced garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper to taste and whisk until smooth and slightly thickened.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled pasta with salami, roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, fresh basil, and olives. Pour the dressing over and toss gently to coat evenly.
  5. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld. Before serving, toss again and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent mushiness. For a vegetarian version, substitute salami with grilled halloumi or marinated tofu. Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free dish. If salad feels dry after chilling, drizzle extra olive oil and toss again. Adjust acidity by adding a pinch of sugar or honey if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, summer salad, salami salad, roasted red peppers, easy pasta salad, picnic recipe, quick salad

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/flavorful-summer-pasta-salad-recipe-with-salami-and-roasted-red-peppers-made-easy/