Description
A colorful and nutritious pasta salad packed with protein, fresh vegetables, and Italian flavors, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta
- 3/4 cup of Olive Garden light Italian dressing (192 g)
- 1/2 red onion (120 g), chopped into small pieces
- 1 large bell pepper (170 g), chopped
- 1 medium cucumber (250 g), peeled and diced
- 1 (8 oz) package of smoked deli ham (224 g), chopped
- 1 (5 oz) package of turkey pepperoni (140 g), chopped
- 5 oz of light Italian dry salami (140 g), chopped
- 4 slices of ultra-thin provolone cheese, chopped
- 1/2 cup of feta cheese (56 g)
- Fresh basil, optional
Instructions
- Start by cooking the pasta in salted water according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to halt cooking.
- Chop the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into uniform pieces.
- Slice the smoked deli ham, turkey pepperoni, Italian dry salami, and provolone cheese into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine the pasta, vegetables, meats, and cheeses in a large mixing bowl.
- Crumble the feta cheese over the top.
- Drizzle the light Italian dressing and toss everything together until well coated.
- Add fresh basil if desired, tossing gently.
- Let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Perfect for potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. Customize ingredients as desired.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pasta salad, high protein, Italian salad, healthy salad, vegetarian pasta salad
