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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Italian Pasta Salad

    May 24, 2018 | by Jennifer | Last Updated: Jun 5, 2021

    Jump to Recipe

    This Italian Pasta Salad is easy and delicious, with sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and pasta, all marinated in an herb and garlic filled balsamic vinaigrette.

    Italian pasta salad in white bowl

    This Italian Pasta Salad is my favourite version of an Italian pasta salad and a Summer Essential Salad here. It features pasta, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and a bit of feta, all in an herb and garlic filled balsamic vinaigrette. A pinch of crushed red chilis in the mix gives it a tiny bit of heat. Just enough to be be interesting :)

    This salad keeps well in the fridge, so it's great to have one hand for several days of eating. Perfect for lunch or a grilled dinner side.

    Cook's Notes

    This salad is chock full of flavour and goodies, so it's a little-goes-a-long-way pasta salad. This recipe will serve 4-6 as a side easily. You can double or triple if you're feeding a crowd. I love to toss it with some greens just before serving. The flavours of this pasta salad are lovely with kale, spinach, watercress or arugula.

    I find that balsamic vinegars vary a lot in acidity/sweetness. Mine is quite sweet, so I add a tablespoon or two of red wine vinegar for a bit more acidity. You may not need to. Taste and decide.

    If you like spice, add a tiny bit more of the crushed red chilis for a nice bite to this salad.

    I know feta seems more like a Greek thing than an Italian one, but I have just found that Parmesan gets lost in the other strong flavours. Feta holds it's own and provides a nice salty note. That said, a stronger cheese like Asiago, finely chopped or crumbled, would probably work nicely, as well.

    A quick tip! When boiling water for a bit of pasta for pasta salad, I love to use a large, deep skillet instead of a big pot. The water boils much more quickly and it is easy to stir while cooking.

    Your pasta salad may seem a little liquid-y when you first mix it up, but the marinade will soak in to the pasta as it refrigerates.

    I have confessed before that I am not a fan of olives, so there are none in my salad here. That said, a bit of chopped black olive would be perfectly fitting for this salad if you are a fan :)

    Italian pasta salad in white bowl

    Italian pasta salad in white bowl

    Italian Pasta Salad

    A delicious Italian pasta salad, with pasta, sun dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers, all in a balsamic, garlic and herb vinaigrette.
    Author: Jennifer
    5 stars from 6 ratings
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Salad
    Servings 5 servings

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 1/2 cups dry penne pasta
    • 1/2 cup jarred sun dried tomatoes packed in oil, finely chopped
    • 3/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, finely chopped
    • 1/3 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped

    Marinade:

    • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1-2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
    • 1/4 tsp crushed dried chilis
    • 2 Tbsp dried basil leaves
    • 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
    • 1/3 cup feta cheese, finely crumbled
    • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
    • Freshly ground pepper
    • Salt to taste
    • Optional: Baby arugula, baby spinach or baby kale leaves, for tossing with before serving.
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    Instructions
     

    • Cook pasta in salted water to al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse well with cold water. Drain and set aside.
    • Meanwhile, chop sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and parsley and place in a large bowl.
    • Prepare marinade by combining all ingredients and mixing well. Set aside.
    • When pasta is cooked, cooled and drained, add to bowl with sun dried tomatoes etc. Pour marinade over and toss well to combine. Season with some freshly ground pepper and salt, to taste.
    • Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Will keep in the fridge well for several days.

    Notes

    Be sure to read the "Cook's Notes" in the original post, for more tips, options, substitutions and variations for this recipe!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 469kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 26.5mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 2.5mg

    Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.

    Course Salad
    Cuisine American, Canadian
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    Meet the Author:
    Hi! I'm Jennifer, a home-cook of many years and a lifelong seeker of delicious food! I'm an equal opportunity eater. I enjoy eating all the foods!

    I love to share the classic recipes that I have enjoyed for years, as well as newer discoveries, that have become fast favourites.
    More about me here ...


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Irene says

      September 08, 2020 at 5:00 pm

      5 stars
      Really enjoyed this salad! Will add some Kalamata olives next time!
      Served with baby arugula & baby spinach. Definite repeat!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        September 09, 2020 at 8:52 am

        So glad you enjoyed it, Irene and yes, it's a natural for adding olives (which I don't love but I know many do :) Thanks!

        Reply
    2. Amy says

      January 13, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      5 stars
      My kind of meal! I love the combination of the pasta with the cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and herbs. YUM!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        January 14, 2019 at 8:13 am

        Thanks Amy!

        Reply
    3. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      May 28, 2018 at 8:28 am

      5 stars
      This is my kinda salad! Love all those flavours, especially the sun-dried tomatoes! They are always on hand in our home :)

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        May 28, 2018 at 3:45 pm

        Thanks Dawn and same here! My favourite :)

        Reply
    4. Chris Scheuer says

      May 25, 2018 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      Oh my, this looks like it's loaded with flavor, all my favorites in one bowl! It would make a wonderful side but I also think it would make a wonderful whole meal with a loaf of warm, crusty bread. YUM!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        May 26, 2018 at 7:09 am

        Thanks Chris and yes, I could definitely make a meal of this salad :)

        Reply
    5. Milena says

      May 24, 2018 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I just love the color the vinaigrette lends to the penne! Makes it look even more scrumptious.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        May 24, 2018 at 1:00 pm

        Thanks Milena and yes, it brings lots of flavour to the pasta!

        Reply
    6. Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says

      August 12, 2017 at 3:00 pm

      This is my kind of salad Jennifer! I love sun dried tomatoes and of course I would put a handful of olives in there too. So pretty and hearty and perfect for this time of year!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 13, 2017 at 8:47 am

        Thanks Tricia :) I could eat this one every day. Love these flavours!

        Reply
    7. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      August 12, 2017 at 10:46 am

      5 stars
      I'm sending the link for this recipe right to my son Sean Jennifer. He's always looking for pasta salads to make for the week so he can bring some to work for lunch! He's going to love this one!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 12, 2017 at 10:52 am

        I think he will love this one, Mary Ann! My daughter was asking me to share this recipe for her to use for work lunch, too :)

        Reply
    8. sue | theviewfromgreatisland says

      August 12, 2017 at 10:10 am

      Just reading this ingredient list with the feta, the sun dried tomatoes, chiles, and the balsamic has my mouth starting to water, what a bold mix! I love all that curly kale, too, that's a pretty way to serve it.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        August 12, 2017 at 10:30 am

        Thanks Sue and yes, I love this salad for all the bold flavours, for sure. I think that's why it goes so nicely with the kale.

        Reply

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