Photo of Italian pasta salad with tomatoes and artichoke hearts by WW

Italian pasta salad with tomatoes and artichoke hearts

5
Points®
Total Time
28 min
Prep
18 min
Cook
10 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
This easy pasta salad is meant to be made at the height of summer when fresh tomatoes are at their glorious, unrivaled peak. Be sure to use the ripest, juiciest tomatoes you can find—their juices will add wonderful flavor to the dressing. The chopped artichoke hearts add a briny bite to every forkful. Cellentani pasta, also known as cavatappi, is macaroni that is formed into a spiral shape, but if you can’t find that variety, feel free to use whatever shape you prefer, although short pastas like penne, rotini, and macaroni would work best. Make this a meal by adding some grilled or sautéed chicken or shrimp.

Ingredients

Tomato

1 pound(s), ripe beefsteak or Campari, chopped (3 cups)

Bell pepper

2 item(s), small, yellow and orange, diced (1 ½ cups)

Canned artichoke hearts, drained

14 oz, drained, roughly chopped

Fresh basil

1 cup(s), torn or coarsely chopped

Red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp

Extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp

Table salt

½ tsp, (plus extra for cooking pasta)

Black pepper

½ tsp, freshly ground

Garlic powder

¼ tsp, or more to taste

Uncooked pasta

6 oz, cellentani recommended (2 cups)

Shredded parmesan cheese

cup(s), or shaved, divided

Instructions

  1. Put tomatoes, peppers, artichoke hearts, basil, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a large bowl; toss to coat. Let stand, tossing occasionally, while cooking pasta.
  2. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil; cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain again.
  3. Add pasta to bowl with tomato mixture; toss to coat. Add all but 2 Tbsp Parmesan; toss again.
  4. Serve pasta salad with remaining cheese sprinkled over top.
  5. Serving size: 1 1/3 cups