Description
A festive and colorful pasta salad featuring classic Christmas colors (red, white, and green) perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rotini or bow-tie pasta
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup small fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking and cool down.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, halved fresh mozzarella balls, chopped fresh basil, and finely diced red onion.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or longer, up to several hours) to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled.
Notes
- Rinsing the cooked pasta with cold water is crucial for a good pasta salad texture.
- The salad tastes best when chilled for at least 30 minutes, allowing the dressing flavors to penetrate the ingredients.
- For extra color, you could add finely chopped green bell pepper along with the red onion.