Description
A vibrant and refreshing California Pasta Salad featuring bow tie pasta tossed with colorful fresh vegetables, black olives, and a zesty Italian dressing. Perfectly chilled and packed with flavor, this salad is an ideal make-ahead dish for picnics, potlucks, or light meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound bow tie (farfalle) pasta
Vegetables
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, diced
Additional Ingredients
- 2 small cans sliced black olives
- 1 bottle (16 ounces) Zesty Italian salad dressing
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the bow tie pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Once done, drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly under cold water to cool it down. Drain well to remove excess water.
- Combine Vegetables and Pasta: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta. Then toss in all the diced vegetables: cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, green and red bell peppers, red onion, and sliced black olives. Mix gently to combine evenly.
- Prepare and Add Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Zesty Italian salad dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder until well blended. Pour this dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently toss everything to ensure the salad is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Allow the salad to chill for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to let the flavors meld perfectly.
- Serve: After chilling, give the salad a final toss and serve chilled. Enjoy the fresh, zesty flavors of this California Pasta Salad!
Notes
- The salad improves in flavor after resting in the refrigerator for several hours.
- To keep the salad crunchy, add the dressing just before serving if preferred.
- You can substitute the Zesty Italian dressing with your favorite vinaigrette or homemade Italian dressing.
- This salad is best served cold and makes a great side dish or light meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
