Summer is pasta salad season, and this Easy Italian Pasta Salad is a delicious contribution for your next barbecue or picnic! It works as a side or a light vegetarian lunch or dinner. It’s herby, lemony, and cheesy, as well as very customizable if needed.
The texture of the cooked pasta absolutely tastes the freshest the day of cooking, so while leftovers are still tasty, I definitely recommend serving it straight away if possible!
I love the shape of rigatoni, but any similarly-sized pasta, like penne, fusilli, or farfalle, would work great!
Main Supplies Needed:
- A Large Pot
- Knife & Cutting Board
- A Cheese Grater (unless the cheese is pre-grated)
- A Colander
- 10 x 15 Glass Baking Dish (or similar for serving, see Directions)
Servings: 6 Bowls, Or 12 Small Sides
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Pasta Of Choice, rigatoni or equivalent size
- 10 oz Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1 Dry Pint Grape Tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Lemon Juice From 1 Large Lemon
- 2 Tsp Dried Basil
- 1 Tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese, Plus Extra For Serving, finely grated
- Sea Salt And Black Pepper, to taste
LINKS TO INGREDIENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Red Pepper Flakes | Parmesan Cheese
Directions:
Cook the pasta according to package instructions in a large pot
While the pasta is cooking, halve the tomatoes and set aside
Grate the cheese if it is not pre-grated
Drain the pasta in the colander, then let it cool slightly for a couple of minutes
Transfer the pasta into a large baking dish or bowl that will be used for serving, and potentially storing in the fridge (such as a 10 x 15 glass baking dish)
Coat the pasta in the olive oil, stirring evenly
Stir in the halved tomatoes
Add in the lemon juice and mix in evenly
Mix in the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder
Add the parmesan and evenly stir it all in
Sprinkle and stir in sea salt and black pepper to taste, taste testing until it reaches your preference
Serve immediately at room temperature, or store leftovers sealed in the refrigerator**
Include optional extra parmesan when serving
**Leftovers can be brought back to room temperature before serving
Enjoy!
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