Description
Celebrate the 4th of July with this festive and colorful pasta salad featuring tri-colored pasta tossed with mini pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, fresh vegetables, and a tangy Italian dressing. Perfect for summer gatherings, this salad is both visually appealing and deliciously refreshing.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces Cellentani pasta (or any short pasta)
- 2-3 drops red food coloring
- 2-3 drops blue food coloring
Salad Mix
- 1 cup mini pepperoni
- 1 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
- ½ small red onion, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
Dressing
- 16 ounces Italian dressing (not creamy kind)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Cook the pasta al dente according to the box directions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain the cooked pasta and set it aside to cool.
- Prepare Red Dye Bag: Add 3 drops of red food coloring and 1 tablespoon of water into a large zip-lock bag.
- Prepare Blue Dye Bag: Repeat the process by adding 3 drops of blue food coloring and 1 tablespoon of water into another large zip-lock bag.
- Divide Pasta: Separate the pasta evenly into three portions.
- Dye Pasta Red: Place one portion of pasta into the red food coloring bag, seal it tightly.
- Dye Pasta Blue: Place another portion of pasta into the blue food coloring bag, seal it tightly.
- Keep Third Portion Plain: Set the remaining portion of pasta aside uncolored.
- Mix Food Coloring: Gently toss the pasta inside each sealed bag, moving it around until the pasta is evenly coated with color. Allow the pasta to soak in the color for about 5 minutes.
- Combine Pasta: Empty all three pasta portions into a large mixing bowl.
- Add Salad Ingredients: Add mini pepperoni, cubed mozzarella cheese, diced red onion, and diced red bell pepper to the bowl with the pasta.
- Add Dressing: Pour in 16 ounces of Italian dressing and toss everything together until well combined.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant colors if desired.
- Ensure pasta is fully cooled before coloring to avoid melting the bags or fading colors.
- You can substitute mini pepperoni with sliced olives or cooked sausage for a different protein.
- This salad can be made a day ahead for easier preparation on party day.
