**Tomato & Pasta Salad with Pepperoni Dressing**

**By Chadwick Boyd**
Photo by Rebecca Ryan

This Summertime Pasta Salad Wakes Up with a Zingy Pepperoni-Pepperoncini Dressing

This season, step up your picnic salad game with a celebration of NatureSweet’s Constellation tomatoes and a homemade, salty-briny pepperoni-pepperoncini dressing.

This throw-together salad is a bit sweet from the pepperoncini, crunchy from the fresh romaine, and nutty from the sesame seeds, pleasing pretty much everyone’s tastebuds.

Make this salad the night before to let the flavors meld together. Toss in Fresh Express™ lettuce just before serving to ensure fresh crunch.

Chadwick’s Checklist

What you need to know before you cook.

Cook the pasta until al dente. It should be a little firm to the bite. Otherwise, the pasta won't hold up with the dressing and other ingredients
To save some time, make the dressing beforehand. It will store in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

SERVING SIZE: 4-6 PREP TIME: 10 minutes COOKING TIME: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients

6 ounces fusilli pasta
2 10-ounce containers NatureSweet® Constellation™ tomatoes, halved
4 cups water
1½ teaspoons salt
8 ounces fresh mozzarella pearls
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans, drained
2 cups Fresh Express™ Sweet Hearts or Leafy Green Romaine lettuce
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon fresh oregano or marjoram
Salt and pepper to taste

For the dressing

½ cup pepperoni, cut into small chunks
⅓ cup finely chopped pepperoncini (stems removed) + ½ cup brine
1 garlic clove, minced
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons honey
½ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

Add the fusilli and 1 pint of Constellation™ tomatoes to a large, 12-inch skillet and pour in the water. Stir in the salt. Bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to medium-high and cook 17 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the pasta is al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, make the dressing. Place the pepperoni in a small food processor and pulse until finely ground. Transfer to a small bowl, and whisk together with all the other ingredients.
When the pasta is done, transfer to a large mixing bowl. Let cool at least 10 minutes.
Add the second pint of Cherubs®, mozzarella and beans to the pasta and toss to combine. Pour the pepperoni dressing on top and toss again to coat. Let sit at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours to let the flavors meld together.
Before serving, stir in the lettuce, sesame seeds, parmesan and oregano. Season with salt and pepper as desired.