Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) Rotini or Fusilli pasta
- 1 tsp (6g) Salt
- 1 cup (150g) Cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium (120g) English cucumber, diced
- ½ cup (50g) Red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup (60g) Red bell pepper, diced
- ½ cup (50g) Black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup (15g) Fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup (120ml) Extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (60ml) Red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 clove (5g) Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp (5g) Dried oregano
- ½ tsp (3g) Salt
- ¼ tsp (1g) Black pepper
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the package directions to ensure it stays firm.
- Drain in a colander and immediately rinse under cold running water until the noodles are completely chilled to the touch.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the chilled pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, and olives.
- Toss gently with a large spoon to distribute the colors evenly.
- In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Whisk vigorously or shake until the mixture is thick and opaque.
- Pour two-thirds of the dressing over the salad and toss until every noodle is glistening.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Just before serving, toss in the remaining one-third of the dressing and the fresh parsley to refresh the flavor and shine.