Farfalle Italian Pasta Salad

Summertime definitely calls for a refreshing farfalle Italian pasta salad! It is light, zesty and super easy to whip up. It pairs with just about anything, or can be served on its own as a light lunch or snack!

For maximum flavor, I used marinated ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mozzarella in an oil brine, kalamata olives, and capers. All of these ingredients add savory, briny and deep flavors to this simple pasta salad, which really take it to the next level!

Plus, I like to add a dry salami that can be diced up into bite-sized pieces. This is a more traditional way of making Italian pasta salad which makes this similar to an antipasto salad. The cherry on top is definitely the homemade balsamic dressing which is made with some simple pantry staples!

• Farfalle Pasta: I love using a bow tie pasta in pasta salad! However, you can use different pasta shapes too. Try it with elbow pasta or penne!
• Sun Dried Tomatoes: Use the sun dried tomatoes that come marinated in oil. You can chop them up into smaller pieces if they are too big!
• Fresh Mozzarella: Grab the mini pearl mozzarella balls that are marinated in a seasoned oil. They are super flavorful! You can use the oil that is left behind in the dressing, too. If you can’t find them marinated in oil, that’s okay too!
• Kalamata Olives: I added whole, pitted kalamata olives. Another option is black olives. You can dice them up!
• Capers: Capers add a briny, salty flavor to the mix.
• Dry Salami: Diced into small pieces! You can also use hard salami and cut it into cubes.
• Dressing: Combine olive oil (or oil from the mozzarella marinade), garlic, dry basil, salt and pepper, and balsamic vinegar for an amazing homemade dressing!

1. Prep the Pasta: Boil pasta until al dente and drain. Drizzle with a splash of olive oil and toss the pasta so that it doesn’t stick.

1. Make Dressing: In a jar, combine the ingredients for the dressing. Shake well and set aside.
2. Combine: In a large bowl, add pasta and the rest of the ingredients. Afterwards, pour dressing over the pasta and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy!

• Pasta: Farfalle pasta can be replaced with other small pasta shapes like orzo, penne, macaroni, or cavatappi! Generally, the smaller pasta shapes are easier to each with pasta salad.
• Vegetables: All the vegetables here are marinated for added flavor. If you like, you can add some fresh vegetables to the mix like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh basil! If you don’t have kalamata olives, you can replace them with black olives.
• Cheese: Fresh mozzarella balls are light and refreshing. If you can’t find mini mozzarella balls, you can buy a full ball or log of mozzarella and cut it into bite-sized pieces. If you don’t want to use fresh mozzarella, use parmesan or feta in this farfalle pasta salad!
• Meat: Prefer a vegetarian Italian pasta salad? Simply remove the salami! You can also dice up some pepperoni and add that to the mix.
• Dressing: I love a homemade balsamic dressing, but you can also use your favorite store bought Italian dressing if you prefer!

Store any leftover farfalle Italian pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days! This is a great make ahead salad or side dish recipe, since the flavors just get even better as they chill together.

I don’t recommend freezing bow tie pasta salad, since the textures really won’t be the same after thawing!

Pasta salad is perfect to serve at outdoor summertime gatherings. You can pair it with so many different main dishes! Try serving it with a few of my personal favorites:

• Grilled Hot Dogs with Mango Salsa
• Grilled Flank Steak with Peach Salsa
• Oven Baked BBQ Ribs
• Baked Whole Fish with Olive Relish
• Salmon Piccata

Farfalle literally means “butterfly” in Italian. It is the Italian term to describe bow tie pasta! Farfalle pasta is just a square piece of pasta that has been squeezed in the middle to create a bow tie or butterfly shape!

Small, bite sized pieces of fresh mozzarella are usually called Bocconcini or Ciliegine. In the US, it is sometimes labeled as pearl mozzarella, since they are small balls of mozzarella. For Italian pasta salad, it is best to use the small balls that have been marinated in oils and herbs, for maximum flavor. You can also buy a large ball of fresh mozzarella or a log shape mozzarella. In that case, simply dice it up into bite-sized pieces.

You can easily make this pasta salad gluten-free by replacing the pasta with your favorite gluten free pasta instead! Just be sure to use a short pasta like bow ties, penne or something similar.

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