Description
A vibrant and hearty pasta salad featuring penne, Italian sausage, crisp vegetables, mozzarella, and a zesty red wine vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz penne pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook penne pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook sausage until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, sausage, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, olives, basil, and mozzarella.
- In a separate bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, oregano, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Chill for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Swap in turkey or vegetarian sausage for a lighter option.
- Add roasted red peppers or artichoke hearts for extra flavor.
- For best results, chill before serving and toss again just before eating.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing & Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 45mg