Easiest Way to Prepare Yummy Taisen's semi Italian pasta salad

Taisen's semi Italian pasta salad. How long does pasta salad with Italian dressing last? Pasta salad with the dressing on it can be stored for later with no problems. If you like this recipe you may also be.

This Italian pasta salad features all the caprese ingredients and then some: mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, plus artichoke hearts and arugula. Pasta salad is truly as easy as boiling water if you stick to a simple formula, use a smart pasta cooling trick, and a flavorful dressing. Remember that the pasta will plump as it cooks, and you want pasta salad to have a generous combination of pasta and vegetables in each bite. You can have Taisen's semi Italian pasta salad using 10 ingredients and 11 steps. Here is how you cook that.

Ingredients of Taisen's semi Italian pasta salad

1. You need 1 can of black pitted olives sliced or leave whole.
2. You need 3-4 of vine tipe tomatoes sliced into bite size pieces (you can use any kind of tomato).
3. You need 1 packages of mozzarella cheese, cut into small cubes or however you like (I buy the round one from Aldi's).
4. You need 1/2-1 block of mozzarella cheese, cubed.
5. It's 1 packages of sliced pepperoni (cut into fours, I cut them in half and then half again).
6. You need 1 of large cucumber (cut into fours or whichever size you want).
7. You need 1 box of any kind of pasta noodles.
8. Prepare 1 of medium or small onion, diced (sweet or red, your choice).
9. Prepare 1 packages of regular ham, honey ham or any other ham cut into bite size pieces.
10. Prepare 1 bottle of Italian dressing (you can use regular or zesty).

I was inspired to make this because I went on a Salami Bender* after the Salami Cream Cheese Roll I shared a couple of weeks ago. This Italian dressing is one of my all time favourite Pasta Salad Dressings. Dried herbs, garlic, vinegar, olive oil, a touch of sugar, pinch of red. This fresh, flavorful zesty Italian pasta salad is loaded with all the favorites - mozzarella, olives, tomatoes, salami, and of course, pasta!

Taisen's semi Italian pasta salad step by step

1. Boil your pasta noodles until done. Remove from heat, drain and let cool. You don't have to use the entire box. I didn't. I used maybe half or a bit over half..
2. While the noodles cool, start prepping the rest of the ingredients..
3. Open and drain black olives. Slice them length wise, in half or leave whole. Your choice..
4. Rinse off the tomatoes, and slice into bite size or you can use grape tomatoes..
5. Rinse, peel and slice your cucumber into bite size pieces..
6. Slice up your block of mozzarella cheese into small bite sizes. Slice your soft round mozzarella into thin slices or however you like..
7. Take your ham and chop it up into pieces or into long thin lengths. I used deli ham..
8. Chop up your onion if using onion..
9. For the pepperoni, you can leave them sliced as is or cut up. I cut mine into fours..
10. When the noodles are cool, add some of the Italian dressing. Mix. Start adding in everything that you chopped and sliced. Mix well. You don't have to use the entire bottle..
11. Cover with plastic wrap and set in the fridge for at least an hour. Enjoy ;).

This may seem like your basic Italian pasta salad, but I promise you it tastes soooo much better. I've added a few key ingredients to really make the flavors. Quick & easy recipe for the best Italian pasta salad - classic, zesty flavor with homemade Italian dressing! Serve cold with pepperoni, or go no meat! As a kid, my mom would make pasta salad from a box.