Oh, Tuscan pasta salad, where have you been? I was getting just a bit tired of pasta salads and coleslaw then you came along and boom! Something totally different. This recipe makes a nice big batch, perfect for a family get-together, and perfect for that ‘wow factor too.
The Perfect Salad
There’s nothing in this that will scare off grandma I tend to make my dishes on the spicy side. I resisted that temptation with this Tuscan pasta salad, with great results. Fresh and exciting, this salad hits the spot with it’s Italian-inspired flavors.
You can substitute a tablespoon of dried basil for the fresh if you wish. Just make sure you crumble it a bit in your hand before adding it. I used fresh spinach, but you can also get away with frozen. Just make sure that it’s thawed completely first and squeeze very last drop of water from it before adding it (I like to place it in a kitchen towel, wrap it up tight, and squeeze the heck out of it). I would not recommend omitting the sun-dried tomatoes! They add so much flavor to this salad.
Also try my Mardis Gras pasta salad and also my amazing dill pickle pasta salad.
Tuscan Pasta Salad
Ingredients
For the salad
- 16 ounces bow-tie pasta
- 7 ounces sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 6.5 ounce black olives drained, sliced
- 1 cup spinach chopped
- ¼ cup basil chopped
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
For the dressing
- ¾ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the salad
- Cook the pasta per package instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain well. Transfer to a large bowl.
- Add remaining salad ingredients and mix.
- Add the dressing and toss to coat.
For the dressing
- Whisk all ingredients together until combined. Note: I like to put the ingredients in a small jar or resealable container, seal, and shake to mix.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate.
