Easiest Pasta Salad

Ingredients

For the Dressing

• 1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1⁄2 tsp sugar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1⁄4 tsp black pepper

For the Salad

• 1⁄2 med red onion, chopped
• 8 oz dried short pasta, such as rotini
• 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
• 1 sm English cucumber, quartered lengthwise then thinly sliced crosswise
• 4 oz mini mozzarella balls, drained and halved
• 4 oz salami slices, cut into 1⁄2" wide strips
• 1⁄2 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
• 1⁄4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

1. Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Add the finely chopped red onion and stir to combine. Set aside to soften while you prepare the rest of the salad.
3. Bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente — soft with just a bit of chew — about 8 minutes or according to package directions. Meanwhile, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander and run under cold water. Dunk the colander in the ice bath and set aside to cool for 5 minutes.
5. Drain the pasta well. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella, salami, olives, and parsley.
6. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld before serving.