Description
These Fun and Flavorful Pasta Salad Cups are the perfect party appetizer, combining al dente rotini pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and a zesty Italian dressing. Served in individual cups, they’re easy to grab and a crowd-pleaser for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz (225 g) rotini pasta
- ¼ teaspoon salt (for pasta water)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 cup (150 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cucumber, diced
- ½ cup (75 g) black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup (10 g) fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing and Garnish
- ½ cup (120 g) Italian salad dressing
- Extra parsley sprigs for garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook for 8–10 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the black olives, and chop the fresh parsley finely.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, black olives, and chopped parsley. Pour the Italian dressing over the mixture and toss well to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Assemble the cups: Spoon the pasta salad mixture evenly into 12 clear serving cups, filling each cup to the top for a neat presentation.
- Garnish and chill: Decorate each pasta salad cup with a sprig of fresh parsley and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Refrigerate the cups until ready to serve to keep them fresh and chilled.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse the pasta immediately after cooking to prevent it from sticking and to cool it for the salad.
- Use Italian dressing for a tangy, herb-infused flavor; you can substitute with your favorite vinaigrette if preferred.
- These pasta salad cups can be made a few hours in advance and kept chilled in the refrigerator.
- The Parmesan cheese garnish is optional but adds a nice salty and savory touch.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or red onions to customize your pasta salad.
