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Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

A delightful side dish featuring crunchy vegetables and tender bow tie pasta, perfect for gatherings or as a light main course.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Base Ingredients
  • 8 oz bow tie pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup mozzarella balls
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/4 cup red onion, diced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • to taste Salt and pepper

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the bow tie pasta and cook according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes or until al dente. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Preparing the Vegetables
  1. While the pasta is cooking, chop your cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil. Slice the black olives and set everything aside.
Mixing the Salad
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, sliced olives, diced red onion, and chopped basil.
Dressing the Salad
  1. Drizzle the olive oil and balsamic vinegar over the salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss everything together until it’s well coated.
Chilling and Serving
  1. For best flavors, let the salad chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy the refreshing taste!

Notes

This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Avoid overcooking the pasta to maintain texture. Serve with fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil.