--- title: Easy Italian Pasta Salad description: This Italian Pasta salad is easy to make, bursting with vibrant flavors and a hint of natural sweetness from medjool dates-- perfect for summer gatherings! image: https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/2A6C5FAB-379E-4489-A21A-E5263A0F2092.jpg --- [![Joolies California Superfruit](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/joolies_logo_tm11.png)](https://joolies.com/) - [Shop](https://joolies.com/collections/all) - [Find Us](https://joolies.com/pages/find-us) - [Recipes & More](https://blog.joolies.com/) - [Date-able Recipes](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/date-able-recipes) - [Company News](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/company-news) - [Healthy Living](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/healthy-living) - [Dates 101](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/dates-101) - [Our Dates](https://joolies.com/pages/our-dates) - [Sustainability](https://go.joolies.com/sustainability) - [Our Story](https://joolies.com/pages/our-story) - [Wholesale](https://go.joolies.com/wholesale) [![julies](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/Joolies_June_2019/Images/logo.svg)](https://joolies.com/) ![organic medjool dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/Scree8oluynshot_111.png) # Date Book [All](https://blog.joolies.com/) [Date-able Recipes](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/date-able-recipes) [Company News](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/company-news) [Healthy Living](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/healthy-living) [Dates 101](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/dates-101) # Easy Italian Pasta Salad 5 Minute Read Tags: [Date-able Recipes](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/date-able-recipes) [Vegan](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/vegan) [Nut-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/nut-free) [Vegetarian](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/vegetarian) [Gluten-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/gluten-free) [Dairy-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/dairy-free) [Soy-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/soy-free) [Egg-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/egg-free) [Refined Sugar-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/refined-sugar-free) [Peanut-Free](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/peanut-free) [Side Dish](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/side-dish) [Lunch](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/lunch) [Dinner](https://blog.joolies.com/tag/dinner) Written by [Abby](https://blog.joolies.com/author/abby) ![italian pasta salad with dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/2A6C5FAB-379E-4489-A21A-E5263A0F2092.jpg) *This chilled Italian Pasta salad is so easy to make, bursting with vibrant flavor, studded with bites of natural sweetness from medjool dates and can easily be made **vegan-friendly**, **gluten-free**, and **dairy-free**. The perfect dish for summer gatherings!*   When you think of pasta salad, you think of medjool dates too right? Well I promise after you make this one, you won't be able to not think of medjools too (Italians please don't come for me this is all light-hearted 😅). This **Easy Italian Pasta Salad** deliciously blends the classic Mediterranean flavors with a touch of natural sweetness from [Joolies medjool dates](https://joolies.com/collections/all/products/organic-medjool-dates-pack-of-two-whole-12oz-bags) that will be a hit for any picnic, cookout, or summer hangout.    ![medjool dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/6E76BD2E-CE1A-41E6-AB95-FBC0EC05E11C.jpg?width=3024&height=4032&name=6E76BD2E-CE1A-41E6-AB95-FBC0EC05E11C.jpg)    When it comes to choosing the type of short pasta noodle, I implore you to step outside of the comfort zone of *penne *and get crazy with a bowtie, a rotini, a fussilli for more than one reason. One being penne seems to get a lot of the spotlight (she's probably an only child🙄) and two being the dressing can get all up in the crooks and crevices of the later, packing more flavor in each bite.   ![IMG_5330](https://blog.joolies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_5330.jpg?width=3024&height=4032&name=IMG_5330.jpg)   There's just something about cold pasta salads on a sweltering summer day that makes it tastes *even *better. It's so easy to make, packed with flavor, and can easily be made **vegan-friendly**, **gluten-free**, and **dairy-free** to accommodate everyone's tastebuds and dietary preferences. For the sake of time and ease, we opted for a store-bought Italian dressing but if you have some time to spare to make a homemade version please do!   ![medjool dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/9C48FE44-F20A-4C68-9552-738D37CC5D11.jpg?width=3024&height=4032&name=9C48FE44-F20A-4C68-9552-738D37CC5D11.jpg)   ## Ingredients you'll need:   1. 1. **Pasta** - This is the base of our salad. We went with [Rao's bowtie pasta](https://www.raos.com/products/farfalle-pasta) (we love that it's made with *only *two ingredients) but feel free to use your favorite short noodle like Rotini, Fussilli, and so on.  2. **Joolies Medjool Dates** - Even though dates are typically used in sweet dishes, they are an amazing addition to salads, adding a delightful contrast to the savory elements with it's natural sweetness. 3. Olives - We went with green olives, which add a buttery, mild sweet flavor. Black olives will work here or if olives just aren't your thing, feel free to substitute with capers, artichokes, or just omit! 4. **Red Bell Pepper** - This adds bites of fresh, crisp sweetness and a pop of color that makes the salad more vibrant! 5. English Cucumber - A must for a chilled pasta salad--fresh, crunchy, and so refreshing. We recommend using an English cucumber for it's sweeter flavor, crunchier texture, soft skin (so yucky bitter taste!) and lack of seeds. 6. **Red Onion** - For a pop of color, it's sharp, tangy flavor, adds depth to every bite. If it's too strong for you, feel free to swap with green onions. 7. **Italian Dressing** - This ties it all together with a pretty, zesty bow (no pun intended😉) and adds moisture to our salad.   8. **Fresh Feta Cheese** - For a little creaminess and tangy flavor that adds a unique dimension to the dish. Feel free to omit if you are dairy-free or substitute with a dairy-free version. 9. **Parsley** - This versatile, common herb adds a fresh, mild peppery flavor and is [rich in polyphenols (aka strong antioxidants) to help defend against oxidative stress.](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4227268/) Dried herbs generally contain higher levels of polyphenols compared to fresh. 10. **Salt + Black Pepper** - These work together to really enhance the other flavors we've got going on! 11. **Optional: Protein** - For some added protein, a cured meat like salami or prosciutto, a summer sausage, or even some simple grilled chicken would make a stellar addition! ![italian pasta salad with medjool dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/C26E2BEC-21A1-4447-92FF-735CE8C968EE.jpg?width=3024&height=4032&name=C26E2BEC-21A1-4447-92FF-735CE8C968EE.jpg)   If you make this easy, chilled pasta salad, be sure to tag us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jooliesdates/) **@jooliesdates** and use the hashtag **#jooliesdates** so we can see all your date-able date recipe recreations! And you can always comment below!   ## More Easy Sides You'll Love - [Savory Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates](https://blog.joolies.com/savory-goat-cheese-stuffed-dates) - [Glazed Roasted Carrots with Dates and Pistachios](https://blog.joolies.com/glazed-roasted-carrots-with-dates) - [The BEST Sweet and Spicy Edamame](https://blog.joolies.com/the-best-sweet-and-spicy-edamame) - [Healthy Chicken Pad Thai](https://blog.joolies.com/healthy-chicken-pad-thai) - [Date Dijon Glazed Roasted Brussels Sprouts](https://blog.joolies.com/date-dijon-glazed-roasted-brussels-sprouts)   ![ITALIAN-PASTA-SALAD-PIN](https://blog.joolies.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ITALIAN-PASTA-SALAD-PIN.jpg?width=480&height=1200&name=ITALIAN-PASTA-SALAD-PIN.jpg)      ## Easy Italian Pasta Salad Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Refined sugar-free - prep time: 20 minutes - cook time: 12 minutes - total time: 32 minutes **Servings: 6**   **INGREDIENTS:** - 12 oz bow tie pasta - 1 English cucumber - 1/3 cup red onion - 1 small red bell pepper - 3/4 cup green olives - 6-8[Joolies dates](https://joolies.com/collections/all/products/organic-medjool-dates-pack-of-two-whole-12oz-bags), chopped - 1 cup Italian dressing - 2 tbsp parsley - salt and pepper to taste - crumbled feta for topping   **DIRECTIONS:** 1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package. Drain and let it cool. 2. Grab a cutting board and chop up the red onion and red bell pepper. Slice the cucumber, olives, and dates into slivers.  3. Once the pasta has cooled, transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with all the prepared veggies, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Pour the dressing in and combine until thoroughly coated. 4. When ready to serve, garnish with crumbled feta cheese and enjoy! *Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.* [Download Recipe](https://go.joolies.com/easy-italian-pasta-salad-download) [Buy Now Online](https://joolies-dates.myshopify.com/cart/39408522723431:1?channel=buy_button) ## Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest promotions, recipes, date-ing tips and giveaway opportunities! ### Subscribe Here! ![organic medjool dates](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/joolies_circle_logo_tm.png) - [Shop](https://joolies.com/collections/all) - [Find Us](https://joolies.com/pages/find-us) - [Our Dates](https://joolies.com/pages/our-dates) - [Our Story](https://joolies.com/pages/our-story) - [Press](https://go.joolies.com/press) - [Wholesale](https://joolies.com/pages/wholesale) - [Blog](https://blog.joolies.com/) - GET IN TOUCH Grown \[with love\] under the California sun 🌴☀️ Path Copy@3x Created with Sketch. ![date](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5221331/Joolies_June_2019/Images/date-new_250x250.png) [![Joolies](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/joolies_circle_logo_tm.png)](https://joolies.com/collections/frontpage/products/whole) [![Joolies](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/joolies_circle_logo_tm.png)](https://joolies.com/collections/frontpage/products/datesyrup) [![Joolies](https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/joolies_circle_logo_tm.png)](https://joolies.com/collections/frontpage/products/pitted) [Shop Now](https://joolies.com/products/whole) [info@joolies.com](mailto:info@joolies.com) © 2020. All Rights Reserved  |  [Design](https://310creative.com/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Recipe", "@id": "https://blog.joolies.com/easy-italian-pasta-salad", "image": "https://blog.joolies.com/hubfs/2A6C5FAB-379E-4489-A21A-E5263A0F2092.jpg", "name": "Easy Italian Pasta Salad", "datePublished": "2024-08-27", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abby" }, "keywords": [ "date-able recipes", "vegan", "nut-free", "vegetarian", "gluten-free", "dairy-free", "soy-free", "egg-free", "refined sugar free", "peanut-free", "side dish", "lunch", "how to use medjool dates in recipes", "date recipes", "dinner" ], "description": "This chilled Italian Pasta salad is so easy to make, bursting with vibrant flavor, studded with bites of natural sweetness from medjool dates and can easily be made vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy-free. The perfect dish for summer gatherings! When you think of pasta salad, you think of medjool dates too right? Well I promise after you make this one, you won't be able to not think of medjools too (Italians please don't come for me this is all light-hearted 😅). This Easy Italian Pasta Salad deliciously blends the classic Mediterranean flavors with a touch of natural sweetness from Joolies medjool dates that will be a hit for any picnic, cookout, or summer hangout.  When it comes to choosing the type of short pasta noodle, I implore you to step outside of the comfort zone of penne and get crazy with a bowtie, a rotini, a fussilli for more than one reason. One being penne seems to get a lot of the spotlight (she's probably an only child🙄) and two being the dressing can get all up in the crooks and crevices of the later, packing more flavor in each bite. There's just something about cold pasta salads on a sweltering summer day that makes it tastes even better. It's so easy to make, packed with flavor, and can easily be made vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy-free to accommodate everyone's tastebuds and dietary preferences. For the sake of time and ease, we opted for a store-bought Italian dressing but if you have some time to spare to make a homemade version please do!  Ingredients you'll need: Pasta This is the base of our salad. We went with Rao's bowtie pasta (we love that it's made with only two ingredients) but feel free to use your favorite short noodle like Rotini, Fussilli, and so on.  Joolies Medjool Dates Even though dates are typically used in sweet dishes, they are an amazing addition to salads, adding a delightful contrast to the savory elements with it's natural sweetness. Olives We went with green olives, which add a buttery, mild sweet flavor. Black olives will work here or if olives just aren't your thing, feel free to substitute with capers, artichokes, or just omit! Red Bell Pepper This adds bites of fresh, crisp sweetness and a pop of color that makes the salad more vibrant! English Cucumber A must for a chilled pasta salad--fresh, crunchy, and so refreshing. We recommend using an English cucumber for it's sweeter flavor, crunchier texture, soft skin (so yucky bitter taste!) and lack of seeds. Red Onion For a pop of color, it's sharp, tangy flavor, adds depth to every bite. If it's too strong for you, feel free to swap with green onions. Italian Dressing This ties it all together with a pretty, zesty bow (no pun intended😉) and adds moisture to our salad.   Fresh Feta Cheese For a little creaminess and tangy flavor that adds a unique dimension to the dish. Feel free to omit if you are dairy-free or substitute with a dairy-free version.  Parsley This versatile, common herb adds a fresh, mild peppery flavor and is rich in polyphenols (aka strong antioxidants) to help defend against oxidative stress. Dried herbs generally contain higher levels of polyphenols compared to fresh. Salt + Black Pepper These work together to really enhance the other flavors we've got going on! Optional: Protein For some added protein, a cured meat like salami or prosciutto, a summer sausage, or even some simple grilled chicken would make a stellar addition! If you make this easy, chilled pasta salad, be sure to tag us on Instagram and Pinterest so we can see all your date-able date recipe recreations! And you can always comment below! ", "prepTime": "PT20M", "cookTime": "PT12M", "totalTime": "PT32M", "recipeCategory": "entree", "recipeCuisine": "American", "recipeIngredient": [ "12 oz bow tie pasta", "1 English cucumber", "1/3 cup red onion", "1 small red bell pepper", "3/4 cup green olives", "6-8 Joolies medjool dates, chopped", "1 cup Italian dressing", "2 tbsp parsley", "salt and pepper to taste", "crumbled feta for topping" ], "recipeYield": "6 servings", "recipeInstructions": [ { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package. Drain and let it cool. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Grab a cutting board and chop up the red onion and red bell pepper. Slice the cucumber, olives, and dates into slivers. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "Once the pasta has cooled, transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with all the prepared veggies, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Pour the dressing in and combine until thoroughly coated. " }, { "@type": "HowToStep", "text": "When ready to serve, garnish with crumbled feta cheese and enjoy! " } ] } ```