Tuscan Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 8

Yield: 8 cups

Ingredients

• 1 cup bow-tie pasta

• 1 ½ cups grape tomatoes, sliced

• 1 cup Italian dressing (such as Kraft® Tuscan House Italian)

• 1 cup vegan mayonnaise (such as Vegenaise®)

• 3 stalks celery, chopped

• 1  cucumber, peeled and chopped

• ½ cup pepperoncini peppers, minced

• ½ cup red onion, diced

• ½ cup sweet banana peppers, diced

• ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and chopped

• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

•   salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.

• Combine pasta, tomatoes, Italian dressing, vegan mayonnaise, celery, cucumber, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, banana peppers, olives, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese in a large mixing bowl. Mix until the dressing takes on a creamy consistency and all ingredients are thoroughly coated.

•  Season salad with salt and pepper. Serve immediately or refrigerate, mixing again just before serving.

  

Cook's Notes:  

Other pasta shapes may be used in place of bow-tie pasta. You want to end up with 2 cups of cooked pasta.

The pepperoncini peppers can be either sweet or mild.

Real bacon bits or diced, cooked meat can be added to create a robust Mediterranean meal.

........