Easy Italian Butterfly Salad

Easy Italian Butterfly Salad,  made with fresh ingredients, including tomatoes, mozzarella, herbs and a delicious Homemade Italian Salad Dressing.  The perfect Summertime Lunch or Dinner idea.

Easy Italian Butterfly Salad

I hope after the long cold winter a lot of you have had, spring  has finally sprung.  And what does that mean?  BBQs and of course Pasta Salad.

This month for my little get together with my four blogger friends we decided to create a Mother’s Day Brunch menu. So if you are planning a buffet style brunch or even a BBQ, this simple Easy Italian Pasta Salad is the perfect addition.

I make this Pasta recipe quite often in the summer, it’s fast and easy and the best way to keep your cool in the Summer.

How to Cook Pasta

1. In a large pot add water and bring to a boil.
2. Add a little salt and the pasta.
3. Make sure that you keep the water at a full boil.
4. Stir occasionally.
5. Cook pasta al dente.  Check the package for cooking time and taste to make sure it is cooked to perfection.
6. Drain but do not rinse the pasta, except when making a cold pasta salad because you will want to cool down the pasta before adding it to the other ingredients.

What is the best Pasta to use?

For pasta salads I prefer to use a mini pasta, such as butterfly (farfalle), wheels (rotelle) or even ditalli.

How to make a Pasta Salad

• Cook pasta al dente in boiling salted water
• In a separate bowl mx together the tuna, corn, mozzarella balls, grape or cherry tomatoes and fresh basil.
• In a separate container mix together the ingredients for the dressing.
• Add the drained cooled pasta to the bowl and drizzle the dressing on top.
• Gently combine and serve.

 More Summer Pasta Recipes you may enjoy!

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

Fresh Grape Tomato Pasta

Hot Caprese Pasta

Roasted Pepper Pasta Salad

So whenever the hot weather hits or you are just looking for a quick and easy pasta recipe I hope you give this Easy Italian Pasta Salad a try.  Buon Appetito!

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Easy Italian Butterfly Salad

Easy Italian Pasta Salad,  made with fresh ingredients, including tomatoes, mozzarella, herbs and a delicious Homemade Italian Salad Dressing.  The perfect Summertime Lunch or Dinner idea.

Course Main Dish, Pasta, Side Dish

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 242kcal

Author Rosemary Molloy / An Italian in my Kitchen

Ingredients

FOR THE PASTA SALAD

• 3 cups pasta (cooked) (small past / I used bow tie pasta)
• 2 cans tuna drained (6 ounces / 170 grams)
• 1 can sweet corn drained (6 ounces / 150 grams)
• 15 small mozzarella balls (cut in half)
• 20-25 grape or cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
• 5 fresh basil leaves (chopped)

FOR THE DRESSING

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 - 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon basil (chopped)
• dash pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• In a large pot of boiling salted water cook the pasta al dente.  Drain and rinse in cold water.  (Only rinse pasta in cold water if making a cold pasta salad)

FOR THE DRESSING

• In a small bowl combine the olive oil, balsamic, oregano, salt,  basil and dash of pepper.  Stir or whisk to combine.  

FOR THE PASTA SALAD

• In a large bowl add the tuna, corn, mozzarella balls, tomatoes and fresh chopped basil, then add the cooked drained pasta and mix, then drizzle the dressing on top and gently combine.  Can be served immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate approximately 1 hour before serving.  Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 888mg | Potassium: 779mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1020IU | Vitamin C: 25.2mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2.9mg

Did you make this recipe?Mention @anitalianinmykitchen or tag #anitalianinmykitchen!

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