Zesty Italian Pasta Salad – A Refreshing No-Pork Twist on a Classic Recipe
A vibrant halal-friendly pasta salad with rotini, peppers, olives, mozzarella, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for parties, picnics, or a quick flavorful lunch.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 35
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: quick
- Method: Refrigerating
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
1 lb. rotini pasta (gluten-free if preferred)
3.5–4 oz. halal-certified pepperoni, quartered (about ¾ cup)
4 oz. halal-certified sliced salami, quartered (about ¾ cup)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup black olives, drained and halved
1 orange bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
½ cup finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
8 oz. fresh mozzarella pearls
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan (for garnish; use dairy-free if needed)
Parsley (chopped, for garnish)
1 cup homemade Italian dressing
Instructions
Prepare the homemade Italian dressing (see recipe instructions for details)
Boil 4–5 quarts of water in a large pot
Add a pinch of salt (1–2 tablespoons) to the water
Cook rotini pasta until just al dente, then drain and transfer to a serving bowl
Pour half the dressing over the warm pasta and toss to coat
Add halal-certified pepperoni, salami, cherry tomatoes, black olives, bell peppers, red onion, pepperoncini, and mozzarella pearls
Mix thoroughly until evenly distributed
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (up to 24 hours)
Before serving, adjust seasoning and refrigerate the remaining dressing for future use
Notes
Use halal-certified meats to ensure dietary compliance
Chilling enhances flavor – plan ahead
Swap veggies like zucchini or cucumbers for freshness
Serve cold on its own or with crusty bread and grilled vegetables
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Find it online: https://yumandrun.com/zesty-italian-pasta-salad-no-pork-recipe/