Pasta Salad Cups
Bright and simple bite-sized appetizers ideal for parties, featuring rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing served in clear cups.
Ingredients
For the salad
- 8 oz rotini pasta Pick quality rotini for texture and dressing cling.
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved Choose firm, glossy tomatoes for concentrated sweetness.
- 1 cup diced cucumber Use fresh cucumbers for crunch.
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced Briny pop enhances flavor.
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Add just before serving for freshness.
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing Use good bottled dressing for convenience.
- to taste salt and pepper Season to taste, especially since olives contain salt.
Instructions
Preparation
- Boil the rotini pasta in salted water until al dente.
- Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water to stop cooking.
- Chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and parsley.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, vegetables, and parsley.
- Pour in Italian dressing and toss until evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more dressing if needed.
- Portion the salad into small clear plastic cups using a spoon, refrigerate, and serve chilled.
Notes
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors and keep servings cold. Use clear cups for a great visual display.