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Fresh Patriotic Pasta Salad Recipe Easy Zesty Italian Dressing for Summer Picnic

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A colorful and zesty pasta salad featuring tri-color rotini, fresh veggies, blueberries, and feta cheese tossed in a homemade zesty Italian dressing. Perfect for summer picnics and backyard barbecues.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces tri-color rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium English cucumber, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries (optional)
  • ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped
  • ¼ cup red onion, finely diced (optional)
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of tri-color rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions (about 8 to 10 minutes) until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, dice 1 medium English cucumber, dice 1 medium red bell pepper, finely chop ¼ cup red onion (optional), chop ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, rinse ½ cup fresh blueberries if using, and crumble ½ cup feta cheese.
  3. In a small bowl or jar, combine ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, and salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Whisk or shake vigorously until emulsified and slightly thickened. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, parsley, blueberries, and feta cheese. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let flavors meld. Before serving, toss gently again and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Notes

Rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent mushiness. Make dressing fresh and emulsify well. Toss salad gently to avoid breaking ingredients. Chill at least 1 hour for best flavor. For vegan version, omit feta or use vegan cheese. Gluten-free pasta can be used as a substitute. Add avocado just before serving to avoid browning.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, patriotic pasta salad, Italian dressing, summer picnic, Fourth of July, easy pasta salad, zesty dressing, tri-color rotini, feta cheese, fresh vegetables

Find it online: https://islatable.com/fresh-patriotic-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-zesty-italian-dressing-for-summer-picnic/