Description
A nutritious and vibrant pasta salad packed with protein from chickpea or rotini pasta, mixed with hearty meats and fresh vegetables, all tossed in a light Italian dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (8 oz) box of protein or chickpea rotini pasta
- 3/4 cup of Olive Garden light Italian dressing (192 g)
- 1/2 red onion (120 g), chopped
- 1 large bell pepper (170 g), chopped
- 1 medium cucumber (250 g), peeled and diced
- 1 (8 oz) package of smoked deli ham (224 g), chopped
- 1 (5 oz) package of turkey pepperoni (140 g), chopped
- 5 oz of light Italian dry salami (140 g), chopped
- 4 slices of ultra-thin provolone cheese, chopped
- 1/2 cup of feta cheese (56 g)
- Fresh basil, optional
Instructions
- Begin by cooking the chickpea or protein pasta according to the package directions. Salt the water generously for the best flavor.
- Once the pasta reaches al dente, drain it and rinse with cold water to cool it down.
- As the pasta cools, chop your vegetables. Dice the red onion, bell pepper, and cucumber into small, uniform pieces.
- Cut the smoked deli ham, turkey pepperoni, and light Italian dry salami into even, bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the provolone cheese into small bits.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the vegetables, meats, and cheeses.
- Add the feta cheese, crumbling it gently by hand.
- Drizzle the Olive Garden light Italian dressing over your ingredients and toss gently.
- If desired, add fresh basil and let the salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Finally, serve chilled and enjoy!
Notes
For a crunchier texture, consider adding diced bell peppers or cucumbers just before serving. Experiment with different proteins and dressings for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Cold Preparation
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: pasta salad, high protein, Italian salad, healthy salad, meal prep