Anyone make great Pasta Salad?

[Wishing on a star]

Does anybody here have a great recipe for a cold, italian-style, pasta salad.

I am not talking Italian Dressing over Pasta...

I had one at a pot-luck banquet last year that was really good!
It was made mostly of a larger heavy pasta, and broccoli florets... I am thinking it had a bit of other things to add interest...

It was very lightly coated...
Not like just pouring some Italian dressing.
And it wasn't 'tangy' like most italian dressing or mix packets.

Maybe Olive Oil, Pesto, some grated italian cheese????

I would probably throw in some freshly sliced ripe black olives, maybe some diced tomato (if there were any available in January!!!).

Does anyone here make a similar salad.

I would LOVE a really great recipe!

 

[MSSANDRA]

Here's mine. We are in the south and it's rather heavy but most people rave about it, Amounts can be adjusted.

Cook one pound of bow-tie pasta. (other kinds can also be used). cool.

Mix together 1 pack of the dry ranch dressing and about a cup of dukes mayo.

chop green, yellow and red pepper and an onion into small pieces.

add shredded cheese (about 2 cups)

Toss everything together with black pepper and serve cold. You can also add ham or turkey or pepperoni and have it as a main dish,

 

[Kellykins1218]

Just don't bring it, unsolicited, to a party.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Just don't bring it, unsolicited, to a party.

I really like the boxed pasta salads mixes.To me they are just as good as any "homemade" pasta salad I have had.

 

[JanaDee]

Bowtie pasta
cut up broccoli
cut up cauliflower
diced red onion
italian dressing to LIGHTLY coat
shredded parm

 

[etoiles]

This is my go to pasta salad recipe:

Cheese tortellini
Diced tomatoes
Diced mozzarella or you could use those small baby mozzarella balls
You could add in other veggies as well as you like.

Toss with prepared pesto. I add some and see if it needs more and adjust accordingly.

Always gets compliments and is super easy to make!

 

[mombrontrent]

I make a large batch of this 2-3 times a month:

Salad

1lb pasta (bowties, rotini, penne, ect.)
2 bell peppers, (any color)diced
green and/or black olives, sliced
1 cucumber, sliced
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
handful sundried tomatoes, rehydrated
2 stalks celery, diced
feta cheese (optional)

Dressing

1 lemon, juiced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove, minced
1 tsp sugar

It's REALLY good

 

[shoney]

I make lots of different variation of pasta salad, but they always start with...


fresh garlic, chopped, and softened in olive oil.

Now, depending on the "theme" Italian, Greek, Mexican, etc... I will add other things.

For a more Italian based with broccoli, I would :

steam broccoli for about 3 to 4 minutes. I do not like raw broccoli in salads.

chopped red onion

sliced black olives

sliced grape tomatoes

fresh basil

grated parmasean

salt and pepper

a small amount of red wine vinegar

whatever shape pasta I may have ... bowties, rigatoni, penne, etc.


(For what it is worth, a salad containing elbow pasta and mayo is Macaroni salad )


If I were doing a greek theme, I may add feta, chick peas, red onion, scallion, tomato, cucumber, oregano.

For Mexican, a little chili powder, cumin, fresh cilantro, lime juice, black beans, tomatoes, corn.


I really don't have a set recipe or list of ingredients. It just happens to be what I have.

 

[mjkacmom]

I make a large batch of this 2-3 times a month:

Salad

1lb pasta (bowties, rotini, penne, ect.)
2 bell peppers, (any color)diced
green and/or black olives, sliced
1 cucumber, sliced
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
handful sundried tomatoes, rehydrated
2 stalks celery, diced
feta cheese (optional)

Dressing

1 lemon, juiced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp salt

It's REALLY good

This looks good. I really dislike bottled dressing or mixes, and since they are not used to them, my kids are the same way. I usually just google, or do 3 parts oil, one part acid, garlic, salt and pepper. People love my salads- the trick is homemade dressing, which is so easy to do.

 

[NewRVLady]

Mine has all the chopped meats and cheeses as a new Orleans Muffalato
Plus Italian olive salad
plus black olives
Italian dressing & Ceasar dressing

 

[Dawnlight]

MMMmmm, pasta salad!

I use rotini pasta and add:

marinated artichoke hearts (with liquid)
marinated mushrooms
sundried tomatoes
sliced black olives
feta cheese
dijon mustard
sprinkle with pine nuts

 

[Happy Snowman]

Linguine pasta
sun dried tomatoes
kalamata olives
Italian seasonings (dry mix from Penzey's)
artichoke hearts
light coating of garlic olive oil or regular olive oil and add a clove of minced garlic to the dish

Can be hot or cold

 

[Laura66]

Cubed Colby Jack
Cubed salami
Carrot slices
Small broccoli florets
Italian dressing packet - water, oil and apple cider vinager (use a blender to mix it really well)
Whatever pasta we are into at the time
Sprinkle of Suddenly Salad seasoning to taste

It's kind of a plain salad - but people RAVE about it for some reason! And it's really pretty to look at!

 

[tzolkin]

Not a traditional pasta salad, but a favorite that we will even eat by itself for a summer lunch or dinner.

Tortellini
Artichoke hearts
Roasted red peppers
Cheese (diced mozzarella, shaved Parmesan curls, whatever you like)
Baby spinach

Dressing: lemon zest and juice, a few cloves of garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper


If using as a picnic side dish, I keep the spinach separate and toss together right before serving. You can make the rest in advance, but if you add the spinach and store together in the fridge it will be wilted by the time you're ready to eat it. If DH and I are having it for dinner, we make a bed of spinach in each individual bowl and then add the rest on top.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks you guys.
Some of these sound amazing.

Man, now I am really hungry for a good Pasta Salad!!!

( And, I promise I won't take it anywhere unless it is a pot-luck! )

 

[lizabu]

I make a Greek pasta salad with Greek salad dressing, pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, feta cheese, black olives.

 

[marthachick]

Just don't bring it, unsolicited, to a party.

That was my first thought!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I like The Pioneer Woman's recipe.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/06/the-best-macaroni-salad-ever/

I slice the olives and rough chop everything else instead of dice though. The pickle juice really makes the dressing delicious IMO.

 

[LBIJim]

I really like the boxed pasta salads mixes.To me they are just as good as any "homemade" pasta salad I have had.

I buy the Suddenly Salad boxed pasta salad when they're on sale for a buck, then jazz them up with various ingredients.

For homemade, usually bowtie or rotini pasta. The rest of the ingredients vary; it's probably never made the exact same way twice.

Some possibilities:
Red or green peppers or both.
Olives
Red onion
Grape tomatoes cut in half, or diced roma tomatoes
Tiny cheese cubes
Broccoli florets, either raw or slightly steamed

Olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing, sometimes with a touch of Dijon mustard
Various spices

Experiment and see what works.

 

[denisem]

I use a tweaked version of allrecipes Antipasto Pasta Salad http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Antipasto-Pasta-Salad/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=antipasto%20pasta%20salad&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i1

Tweaks: I use all Genoa salami and leave out the pepperoni, use 1/2 the oregano, use halved grape tomatoes, 1 bell pepper, add a chopped onion and adjust the dressing to more vinegar. This makes a ton and is addicting.