Community Pick
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
"This is doubly good because the pasta and veggies are marinated with Italian dressing, then drained and a mixture of mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese is added. Super delicious!"
photo by esteban
- Ready In:
- 45mins
- Ingredients:
- 12
- Serves:
-
6
ingredients
- 177.44 ml uncooked spiral shaped pasta
- 354.88 ml cherry tomatoes
- 118.29 ml chopped celery
- 118.29 ml chopped carrot
- 59.14 ml chopped sweet red pepper
- 59.14 ml chopped green bell pepper
- 44.37 ml thin sliced green onions
- 354.88 ml Italian salad dressing
- 177.44 ml mayonnaise
- 118.29 ml grated parmesan cheese
- 78.78 ml cubed mozzarella cheese
- 63.78 g can sliced black olives, drained
directions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse with cold water and drain.
- Place in a bowl, add tomatoes, celery, carrots, peppers, onions and Italian salad dressing.
- Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Drain.
- Just before serving, combine mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, then stir in mozzarella and olives.
- Gently fold into the pasta mixture.
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Reviews
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I was really looking forward to trying this one, but we just thought it needed something! More veggies probably. Maybe some pepperoni... I did add about a cup of fresh broccoli. I thought some cucumber would be good too. There was just to mach mayo for me. Especially with the residual Italian dressing. I would say go ahead and add add add whatever you've got in the fridge! I also had a strange urge to throw on some chow mein noodles half way through eating it (which is odd because I've never even had them in the house) Could use a little more crunch in my opinion. Worth a try, but just not for us as is. Thanks Marie! -
this is very good, but there is a typo in the recipe. should be 3-4 cups pasta. i add a lot less mayo, and a lot more chopped veggies. freshly grated parm. if possible, is a lot better. -
from reading previous reviews, I cooked 3 cups of dry pasta (tri colored rottini). Added the salad dressing amount but only 1/2 cup of mayo. I used cubed old cheddar cheese, added cucumber and used tomatoes I cut up (with all the rest of the ingredients listed in the recipe) It turned out perfect. I was only able to let it marinate for an hr and it was still great...the next day was awesome too!! I'll be making this one again for sure! (I also left out the carrots because I didn't have any).
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I was looking for an easy, light pasta salad for dinner. I was tiring of the usual mayo based salads. I came across this post and thought I'd give it a try. I left out the mayo and didn't have any motz cheese, but it turned out to be very appealing and just what I was looking for. Thanks for the post! Thumbs up! -
Less the urge for the chow mein noodles, I agree with Nikoma. I mostly doubled this for a party - adding broccoli, and diced fresh mushrooms. I omitted the mozzerlla and substituted sharp & colby cheeses. I let the cooked noodles marinate in italian dressing over night per instruction and there was really no dressing to drain prior to final prep. Not really sure if mayo is even necessary for this salad but added anyway. I like mayo (Hellmans with olive oil brand) but I will Definately cut back on the amount of mayo called for next time. All in all, the salad got rave reviews and it really is very easy to make.
see 25 more reviews
Tweaks
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Took this to a BBQ yesterday and everyone loved it! I added artichoke hearts and used chopped, seeded whole tomatoes instead of cherry (what I had) and whole black olives instead of sliced (so those who didn't like them could eat around them!) Excellent recipe--I'm not crazy about most pasta salads, but this one is full of flavor! Thanks Marie!
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This was great! I made only used, tomatoes, red pepper, and olives. I also used Feta instead of Mozzarella. I've made this with both mayo and miracle whip. The mayo one is certainly more rich (and I think more delicious). As something of a compromise, I use half mayo half miracle whip and lots of Parmesan cheese. Really delicious! -
LOVE this recipe!!! Not only delicious, but prep can be done the night before - What more could you ask for? This will be a family regular. Creamy, flavorful, and easy. I used 1/3 less mayo than what was called for and light Italian Dressing, subbed baby corn for mozzarella and added some cucumber - healthy and delicious... even the kids love it!
RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
Marie
Fairport, NY
I live in upstate New York. I am retired and now have time to enjoy my children, my grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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