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Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

A vibrant and easy-to-make pasta salad that combines al dente bow tie pasta, fresh vegetables, and creamy mozzarella, perfect for family gatherings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Dressing
  • 8 ounces bow tie pasta
  • 1/2 cup Italian dressing Halal-friendly
Vegetables and Cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper, diced (any color)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Seasoning
  • to taste salt
  • to taste 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 until al dente (usually about 8-10 minutes). Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Preparing the Vegetables
  1. While the pasta cooks, prepare your vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the black olives, dice the red onion and bell pepper, and chop the fresh basil.
Mixing the Salad
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, black olives, red onion, bell pepper, and basil.
Dressing the Salad
  1. Drizzle the Italian dressing over the pasta salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss everything gently to combine.
Chilling and Serving
  1. Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully!

Notes

Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. It’s a perfect make-ahead dish but for the best texture, enjoy it fresh. If reheating, do so gently in the microwave.