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Italian Pasta Salad With Homemade Garlic Vinaigrette

Taralynn McNitt
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian

Ingredients
  

  • 16 Ounces (BOX) Tri-Color Rotini (you can also use gluten free pasta)
  • 2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1 Cup Fresh Mozzarella Pearls
  • 1 Orange Bell Pepper
  • 1 Small Red Onion
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Fresh Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Cup Dry Cured Sausage (or salami/pepperoni/prosciutto)
  • 1 Bunch Broccolini
  • 1/4 Chopped Italian Parsley
  • 2 Tablespoons Honey
  • 3 Tablespoons Balsamic
  • 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 3/4 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Italiana Seasoning
  • Salt/Black Pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot, boil water & cook the pasta! 
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat a saucepan on low. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, and chopped garlic cloves. Allow the garlic cloves to slowly brown. Make sure the oil is not too hot, or it'll start to burn.
  • When the garlic is lightly brown, turn the heat off and remove from burner. Allow the pan to cool off. Once the garlic oil has cooled a bit, add balsamic, vinegar, and honey. Stir. Set aside. 
  • Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the bell pepper and onions, remove the broccolini stems, chop the parsley, and add it to a mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper. I also added some extra garlic powder on top. 
  • After draining and rinsing the pasta, add it to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt on top. 
  • Add the vegetables to the bowl with the rotini. Pour the garlic vinaigrette on top and combine. Add a couple of tablespoons of water to the sauce pan to gather all the extra leftover flavor and add it to the dish. 
  • Add the mozzarella pearls and cured sausage and give it a light toss.  Sprinkle a drizzle of olive oil and pepper on top to finish it off! 

Notes

You can easily make this dish gluten free and dairy free as well. I made a bowl without the cheese and used gluten free pasta. Looking for a vegan option? Exchange the meat and cheese for tofu! 
Nutritional Facts
SERVING SIZE 1 CUP (25 SERVINGS)
Calories: 160, 17g Carbs, 7g Fat, 8g Protein, 1g Sugar, 3g Fiber