Summer Italian Pasta Salad: The One Ingredient I Always Use

pasta

🥗Healthier: whole grain pasta

💰Cheaper: pasta

Whole grain pasta is more nutritious.

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat feta

💰Cheaper: ricotta cheese

Low-fat feta reduces calories, ricotta is often cheaper.

Boil salted water in a medium-sized pot.

Add fucili pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.

Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.

Transfer the rinsed pasta to a serving bowl.

Add chopped cherry tomatoes to the bowl.

Add garbanzo beans (chickpeas) to the bowl.

Thinly slice red onion and add it to the bowl.

Slice salami into strips and add it to the bowl.

Slice black olives and add them to the bowl.

Add provolone cheese to the bowl (optional).

Add marinated artichokes, cutting them in half if needed, to the bowl.

Add diced red bell pepper to the bowl.

In a blender, combine fresh basil, dried Sicilian oregano, garlic, maple syrup or honey, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt to make the dressing.

Blend the dressing until smooth (optional).

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens