Sundried Tomato Italian Pasta Salad

Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD

| 1 min read

Food and Recipes
shanthieats
Sundried Tomato Italian Pasta Salad
This pasta salad recipe packs in nutrients from a variety of vegetables and adds a nice crunch from bell peppers and cucumbers. With a vinaigrette-based rather than mayonnaise-based dressing, this pasta salad fares better for outdoor summer events from a food-safety aspect.
Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 12 ounce box rotini pasta, preferably whole wheat

  • 1 red or orange bell pepper, diced

  • 11⁄4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 1⁄2 cup black olives, drained and sliced

  • 1 English cucumber, diced

  • 1⁄3 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

  • 1⁄2 cup sundried tomatoes, julienne cut in oil

  • 1⁄2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

  • 3⁄4 cup Italian dressing, homemade (recipe below) or store-bought

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Bring pasta to a boil and drop in the pasta. Cook for about 6 minutes, or to desired texture. It’s recommended to have the pasta hard to the bite so that it does not have a mushy texture when combined with dressing.

  • Step 2

    Combine all ingredients. Enjoy!

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 1⁄2 cup olive oil

  • 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar

  • 1 tsp honey

  • 1 tbsp water

  • 1 tsp lemon juice

  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard

  • 3⁄4 tsp dried parsley

  • 3⁄4 tsp dried basil

  • 1⁄8 tsp dried oregano

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Optional: to get more flavor from the dried spices, first grind with your fingers or in a mortar and pestle.

  • Step 2

    Whisk all ingredients or place in a blender.

Related Articles

Food and Recipes

Three Healthy Recipes for Your Friendsgiving Feast

Food and Recipes

Crispy Rice Kale and Cranberry Salad

Food and Recipes

Greek Yogurt Whipped Feta Dip with Apple and Pecan Topping

Food and Recipes

Garlicky Green Beans with Anchovy Breadcrumbs

About
Privacy
Contact

A Healthier Michigan is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
No Personal Healthcare Advice or Other Advice
This Web site provides general educational information on health-related issues and provides access to health-related resources for the convenience of our users. This site and its health-related information and resources are not a substitute for professional medical advice or for the care that patients receive from their physicians or other health care providers.
This site and its health-related information resources are not meant to be the practice of medicine, the practice of nursing, or to carry out any professional health care advice or service in the state where you live. Nothing in this Web site is to be used for medical or nursing diagnosis or professional treatment.
Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed health care provider. Always consult your health care provider before beginning any new treatment, or if you have any questions regarding a health condition. You should not disregard medical advice, or delay seeking medical advice, because of something you read in this site.