Cold Pasta Salads - Your Way!

[mish]

Cold pasta salads are one of my favorites, especially during the Summer months. Do you have a favorite Cold Pasta Salad to share (other than Caprese)?

[Shunka]

Pasta of your choice, Ranch dressing, chopped onions (green or other), peas, carrots (can use thawed frozen), broccoli and/or cauliflower florets, black olives, crumbled bacon or chopped ham or even shrimp or crab meat. My bunch loves this and I like to vary the veggies or I should say I like to add them all!!

[mish]

Originally Posted by Shunka

Pasta of your choice, Ranch dressing, chopped onions (green or other), peas, carrots (can use thawed frozen), broccoli and/or cauliflower florets, black olives, crumbled bacon or chopped ham or even shrimp or crab meat. My bunch loves this and I like to vary the veggies or I should say I like to add them all!!

Shunka, I see you're a veggie lover, like I am. That's one really big pasta salad, lol. Sign me up!

Extra points for recipes... or we could build our own cold pasta salad. Extra extra points for homemade dressing. Thanks, Shunka.

[kadesma]

Hi
Mish,
I enjoy a pasta salad especially in summer, when it's hot. One of my favorites is mix some diced avocado (2) and diced pears (2) in a bowl and squeeze over some lime juice, then add about 1/4 c.cooked bay shrimp, 1/2-diced sweet red onion, and some cooked orzo. I mix together with a slightly sweet dressing and top either some torn up butter lettuce with it or a crisp torn up romaine. If inclined I might add some crumbled feta and bacon on top as well as some yellow cherry tomatoes.I like it nice and cold with bread and a cold drink..Yummy. DH likes to add either raisins or dried cranberries.

kadesma

[sarah]

Originally Posted by kadesma

Hi
Mish,
I enjoy a pasta salad especially in summer, when it's hot. One of my favorites is mix some diced avocado (2) and diced pears (2) in a bowl and squeeze over some lime juice, then add about 1/4 c.cooked bay shrimp, 1/2-diced sweet red onion, and some cooked orzo. I mix together with a slightly sweet dressing and top either some torn up butter lettuce with it or a crisp torn up romaine. If inclined I might add some crumbled feta and bacon on top as well as some yellow cherry tomatoes.I like it nice and cold with bread and a cold drink..Yummy. DH likes to add either raisins or dried cranberries.

kadesma

Your recipe sounds great Kades! whats orzo though?

[Snoop Puss]

Hi Kadesma,
I make a salad similar to yours (no shrimp or bacon, though) but with Puy lentils rather than pasta. Might try the bacon idea as there are lots of "hot" lentil recipes with pancetta and cured sausage around. Bet bacon would work well with lentils. Thanks for the tip.

[bethzaring]

Now days, this is the only pasta salad I make, I can eat this one for weeks on end.

12 ounces cooked and drained pasta, I use a tri colored spiral

dressing:

2/3 cup olive oil
3 T. red wine vinegar
1 T. dried basil or 4 T. fresh basil
3 T. parmesan cheese
1 1/4 t. kosher salt
1/4 t. pepper
some fresh parsley
Wizz all in a blender or food processor

Place drained pasta in a large bowl.

Add:

4 medium chopped bell peppers
4 medium, chopped tomatoes
a handful of chopped olives
a small chopped onion or 2 chopped green onions
8 ounces cubed mozzarella cheese.

Add dressing, toss to coat. Store in frig.

I make this salad without the tomatoes and it is excellent. This way I can make the salad at times that I do not have fresh tomatoes from the garden.

[Michelemarie]

I usually use spinach tortellini - add slightly steamed broccoli, snow peas and lightly sauteed mushrooms with a dressing of olive oil, vinegar (red or white wine), fresh basil, dried basil, green onions, salt and pepper. I love this salad - sooooo good.

My mom makes one with a rotini pasta, chunks of mozzarella cheese, black and green olives, and big chunks of pepperoni in a similar dressing - also good!

[kadesma]

Originally Posted by sarah

Your recipe sounds great Kades! whats orzo though?

Sarah, orzo is a tiny pasta that is shaped just like rice. It is wonderful hot or cold. I like it in this salad, but love it in the winder cooked in chicken stock with sauteed onions,garlic, mushrooms and slaiced almonds and when finished I add some chopped fresh parsley and a daub of butter stir that in and enjoy.
kadesma

[kadesma]

Originally Posted by Snoop Puss

Hi Kadesma,
I make a salad similar to yours (no shrimp or bacon, though) but with Puy lentils rather than pasta. Might try the bacon idea as there are lots of "hot" lentil recipes with pancetta and cured sausage around. Bet bacon would work well with lentils. Thanks for the tip.

Snoop I've have never in my life eaten or cooked lentils. So many here on DC make them, I just am going to have to give them a try. And when you said pancetta and sausage, that did it. I'm am going to make some for sure
Kadesma