A Cold Pasta Salad can be served as a light lunch on a hot summer afternoon or as an additional side dish for any party or dinner because it can be prepared ahead of time.

With such lovely flavors, I think you just need an excuse to make it.

When you are looking to make something quick and easy, which is nutritious as well, this pasta recipe is a good option.

Ingredients

* 500g dried pasta (any shape)
* 2 cans of chopped tomatoes
* 3 Cloves of chopped garlic
* Salt
* Black Pepper
* 1/2 cup Black pitted Olive
* 1/2 cup Green pitted Olives
* 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes
* 1 cup chopped Turkey ham slices
* 1 red bell pepper (diced)
* 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
* 1 Tbsp dried Oregano
* 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
* 1/2 cup fresh mozerella cheese (roughly chopped)
* 1 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese
* 4 Tbsp Olive oil

Method

Take 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan and saute the chopped garlic in it for a minute. Add both the cans of chopped tomatoes and cook on a high flame for 5 minutes or until the tomato juice dries up. Turn off the heat and add the diced peppers and the rest of the ingredients, except the left over oil and parmesan cheese.

Mix and allow to cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, boil the pasta in salted water and drain. Gently mix the pasta and the prepared sauce. Now add the grated parmesan and 2 tablespoons of oil (preferably extra virgin). Mix again. Serve straight away or refrigerate for half an hour and then serve.

Enjoy the delicious flavors of the pasta salad.