Herbed Pasta Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

Submitted by Melissa Loughney, Texas

"This is a great pasta salad for a potluck or picnic since there's not any mayo!"

Ingredients:

• 1 (16oz) pkg. bow-tie pasta
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, quartered
• 7 oz fresh mozzarella, cubed
• 1 medium sweet yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 small red onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup of pickled banana pepper rings
• 1 (2 1/4 oz) black olive slices
• 8 slices salami, chopped
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, thinly shredded

Dressing:

• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 3/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 2 drops doTERRA Basil essential oil

Health Highlights:

Not only does this fresh pasta salad make the perfect offering for your next get-together, but it includes plenty of nutritious ingredients for any health-conscious eaters.

Tomato- According to a study from the University of Montreal, a tomato-rich diet may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer.[1]

Bell Pepper- These bright and flavorful veggies are known to help with weight loss since they are low on calories and can be used as an alternative to salty and processed snacks.[2]

Garlic- One study from the National Cancer Institute discovered that eating 10 grams of garlic each day could lower the risk for prostate cancer.[3]

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse in cold water.
2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients leaving dressing until last.
3. Mix dressing ingredients in a blender until emulsified.
4. Toss dressing with pasta until coated. Cover and refrigerate for one hour to allow flavors to mingle.
5. Serve in a large bowl and enjoy!

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[1] //www.webmd.com/food-recipes/health-properties-tomatoes

[2] //www.livestrong.com/article/407889-what-are-health-benefits-of-bell-peppers/

[3] //naturalsociety.com/benefits-of-garlic/