Bow Tie Pasta Italian Dressing (Print-Friendly Version)
Bow tie pasta with Italian dressing, fresh vegetables, salami, and mozzarella. Flavorful and easy for any occasion.
# Ingredients:
01 -
1 (16-oz) box bow tie pasta
02 -
1-2 cups zesty Italian dressing (8–16 oz; store-bought or homemade)
03 -
8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
04 -
4 oz broccoli, chopped into small florets (include stems if desired)
05 -
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
06 -
1 lb salami, chopped
07 -
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
08 -
1 (8-oz) container fresh mozzarella balls (small pearls or halved larger ones)
09 -
1 (2.25-oz) can sliced black olives, drained
10 -
¼ cup chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional, but recommended)
# Steps:
01 -
Cook the pasta in a large pot of well-salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and remove starch. Shake off excess water and transfer to a large bowl.
02 -
Toss pasta with 1 cup of dressing to coat while still slightly warm.
03 -
Combine cherry tomatoes, broccoli, bell pepper, salami, Parmesan, mozzarella, olives, and fresh herbs (if using). Toss thoroughly to combine. Add more dressing if needed to ensure everything is evenly coated.
04 -
Chill the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving. Toss again before serving and stir in an additional ¼ to ½ cup of dressing if needed, as pasta soaks up dressing while refrigerated.