Italian Pasta Salad (Print Version)

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 16 ounces penne pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions, then rinsed under cold water
02 - ½ pound salami, cut into chunks
03 - 8 ounces (227 g) fresh mozzarella pearls, diced if using large pearls, halved if using small pearls
04 - 3 cups (447 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 2 cans (3.8 ounces each) sliced black olives, drained
06 - 1 medium red onion, diced
07 - ½ cup (75 g) feta cheese, crumbled
08 - ¼ cup banana peppers, sliced
09 - ¼ cup (15 g) fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 ½ cups (324 g) Italian dressing

# Instructions:

01 - Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until it reaches al dente (tender but still firm to the bite). Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. This also helps remove excess starch so the pasta doesn't stick together. Allow the pasta to drain thoroughly.
02 - While the pasta is cooking and cooling, prepare the other ingredients: cut the salami into chunks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the red onion, chop the fresh parsley, and prepare the mozzarella pearls (dice larger ones or halve smaller ones) if needed.
03 - In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta, salami chunks, mozzarella pearls, halved cherry tomatoes, drained black olives, diced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, sliced banana peppers, and chopped fresh parsley. Gently toss all ingredients together until they're evenly distributed throughout the pasta.
04 - Just before serving, pour the Italian dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Toss everything together thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated with the dressing. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor and texture, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Notes:

01 - This pasta salad can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance - just add the dressing right before serving.
02 - For the best flavor, let the dressed pasta salad sit for about 15-30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
03 - Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, though the pasta may absorb more dressing over time.
04 - You can use homemade or store-bought Italian dressing according to your preference.

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