If you’re looking for a quick and delicious pasta salad recipe that’s perfect for lunch or dinner, this Italian-inspired dish is just what you need. With its combination of penne pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, and arugula, this salad is packed with flavor and texture. The dressing, made with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, pesto, mustard, and honey, adds a tangy and slightly sweet note to the dish, bringing all the ingredients together in a harmonious blend. Whether you’re a pasta lover or just want to try something new, this recipe is sure to satisfy your taste buds and leave you craving more. So let’s get started and discover how to make this mouthwatering Italian pasta salad!
Ingredients for 4 portions
For the salad:
250 g Penne or other pasta of your choice
50g pine nuts
Farm fresh arugula
100 g Tomato(es), dried in oil
200 g Mozzarella
150g pre-cooked or canned Ham
salt and pepper
For the dressing:
70ml Extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar, lighter or darker, depending on your taste
1 clove/s garlic
1 teaspoon Pesto
1 teaspoon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
For garnish:
Parmesan, freshly grated
prepared – Working time about 25 minutes
Cooking/baking time approx. 15 mins
Total time about 40 minutes
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, following the package instructions. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set it aside.
- Heat a dry pan over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Toast them for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly browned. Be careful not to burn them. Set them aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and ham. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, pesto, mustard, and honey until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until the pasta and other ingredients are coated with the dressing.
- Divide the pasta salad among four plates and sprinkle each serving with the toasted pine nuts and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Note: If you’re not serving the salad right away, keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving to prevent the pasta from getting soggy.
