Italian Pasta Salad with Ham

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Give your holiday leftovers a fresh and vibrant makeover with this Italian Pasta Salad with Ham. Perfect for a light lunch or a hearty side dish, this salad combines the savory flavors of diced holiday ham with fresh vegetables and a zesty homemade dressing.

This dish is not only a great way to repurpose holiday ham, but it’s also quick to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy days. With colorful cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and the briny bite of olives, each bite is a delightful mix of textures and flavors. Fresh mozzarella and a sprinkle of parsley add a touch of elegance to this simple yet satisfying salad. Enjoy the taste of the holidays in a whole new way with this delicious and easy pasta salad!

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 20 minutes Yields: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

Salad

• 8 oz. pasta rotini, or bow-tie, or elbow pasta

• 1 cup diced ham

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• ½ english cucumber diced

• ¼ cup red onion chopped

• ¼ cup green olives sliced

• ¼ cup black olives sliced

• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces (or use the mini balls)

• ¼  cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus extra for garnish

Dressing

• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• 2 large garlic cloves, minced

• ½ lemon juice freshly squeezed

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

• salt to taste

• pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions.

2. Drain the pasta and rinse it well with cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk all of the ingredients for the dressing (olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, lemon juice, sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper) until well combined. 

4. Add the cooked pasta and all of the other ingredients (diced ham, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, green olives, black olives, mozzarella, and parsley) and toss it all together until everything is evenly coated in the dressing and well mixed. 

5. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Garnish with extra parsley.