One of my favorite summer salads is a Zesty Italian Pasta Salad. It is easy and simple to make. You can make it with plain noodles, colored noodles even pretty bow pasta.

My favorite way is using colored noodles because they make the salad look so pretty look inviting with all the different colors. You can make this salad with all your favorite veggies from your garden and even a few from the store.

If there is one you don’t like; you can leave it out. Some like to add cheese or pepperoni but I prefer just veggies. So whatever your preference is, this salad is for you.

When I first learned to make it my friend made this with angel hair spaghetti. I love the taste but thought it would be better as a chunkier kind of salad. That is why I use the colored noodles for mine. The zesty Italian dressing that is used makes the flavor pop.

This salad is great for a picnic, family gathering or church potluck. It’s especially fun just for summer! You can serve this salad in different servings bowls and containers. I love to use an ice cream bucket with a cow scene on it. I’ve had it for a long time which I save for special occasion or seasonal use such as summer.

You’ll love this salad no doubt so don’t miss out on making it!

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Zesty Italian Pasta Salad

Rating  5 from 1 reviews

Prep time:  30 mins

Total time:  30 mins

Serves: 12

Calories: 32

Ingredients

• I pkg colored noodles
• 1 -2 medium tomatoes
• 1 small red onion
• ½ cup green pepper
• ½ cup yellow pepper
• ½ cup red pepper
• 1 can black olives
• 1 small cucumber
• 1 small bunch of broccoli
• 1 bottle Zesty Italian dressing

Instructions

1. Prepare noodles as directed on package.
2. Using a colander; drain noodles and spray cool water on them to rinse and cool.
3. Put noodles in a clear glass serving bowl. Dice all veggies; then place them on top of cooked noodles.
4. Then add Zesty Italian dressing and gently mix well.
5. Cover and chill before serving.
6. For best results, prepare the day before you wish to use. Stir a couple of times that day and prior to serving. You may need to add a little extra dressing before serving as the noodles will soak it up.

3.3.2998

 Ronzoni Tri-Color Rotini, 12-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 5)

Black olives are picked when they are fully ripened. The texture of a olive depends on how they are cured. Generally olives are packed in salt, brined, pickled, or soaked in oil and sweeter than green olives. Black olives are great in pasta salads and help to give it color.

 Early California Ripe Pitted Olives, Large, 6-Ounce Cans (Pack of 24)

Zesty Italian Dressing is spiced perfectly for a pasta salad. Some of the ingredients are vinegar, water, canola oil, sugar, salt, garlic, red bell peppers, onions and other seasonings. This dressing is superb on pasta!

 Kraft Salad Dressing Zesty Italian 16 Oz

 Bormioli Rocco Viva Salad Bowl, 174-Ounce Lipper International Large Wavy Bowl, Acacia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheryl is a true blue Wisconsinite with excellent writer skills, organization and experience. She writes about foods, crafts, product reviews plus anything else that catches her interest. She’s known as CherylFay and Jerzimom out on the web where she writes. You can sample her articles here and find her at Cheryl Fay’s Corner and at The Writer’s Door.