Name: Italian Pasta Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8 people
Ingredients: 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar ((I like using red)); 1 1/2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese ((Note 1)); 1 tbsp sugar (any); 1 large garlic clove, minced; 1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano; 1/4 tsp dried parsley; 1/2 tsp dried chilli flakes (red pepper flakes) (optional); 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 300g/10oz spiral pasta, or other pasta of choice; 180g/6oz thick sliced salami, cut into 2.5cm/1" batons (see photo in post or videos) (I use spicy salami); 200g/7oz baby bocconcini, halved (Note 2); 1 red capsicum/bell pepper, cut into 3cm/2.2cm strips; 250g/8oz whole olives (I used Sicilian and pitted black) (Note 3); 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (~1.5 Australian punnets); 1 cup (tightly packed) fresh basil leaves