Easy Pasta Salad Recipe with Homemade Dressing

pasta

🥗Healthier: whole grain pasta

💰Cheaper: pasta

Whole grain pasta is more nutritious.

feta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and calories.

Fill a pot with water and set it on medium-high heat to bring to a full boil.

Once boiling, add plenty of salt to the water until it tastes like sea water.

Add half a box of bowtie pasta to the boiling water and stir.

Cook the pasta until al dente, then drain and rinse it with cold or room temperature water to stop the cooking process.

Set the pasta aside.

In a mason jar, combine about one-third to half a cup of extra virgin olive oil, zest from one lemon, juice from half a lemon, one tablespoon of mayonnaise, two minced garlic cloves, one tablespoon of parmesan cheese, one teaspoon of dijon mustard, one teaspoon of dried oregano, half a teaspoon of red chili flakes, one teaspoon of dried parsley flakes, black pepper, and salt to taste.

Shake the jar to combine all the dressing ingredients until well incorporated, adjusting the consistency with more olive oil if needed.

Slice one green pepper and one yellow pepper into thin slices.

Cut 16 ounces of mozzarella cheese into cubes.

Slice one pack of grape tomatoes in half and thinly slice one red onion.

Chop a few tablespoons of fresh basil leaves.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sliced grape tomatoes, sliced red onions, sliced peppers, mozzarella cheese, and the homemade dressing.

Add the chopped fresh basil and mix everything together until well combined, ensuring the dressing coats all the ingredients.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens