Best 5 Apricot Pasta Salad Recipes

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Apricot Pasta Salad: A delightful medley of flavors and textures, this refreshing salad combines the sweetness of dried apricots, the tanginess of feta cheese, the crunch of toasted walnuts, and the heartiness of cooked pasta. Dressed in a zesty lemon-herb vinaigrette, this salad is a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. With variations including Roasted Vegetable Apricot Pasta Salad, Creamy Avocado Apricot Pasta Salad, and a vegan option, this article offers a diverse selection of apricot pasta salad recipes to suit various dietary preferences and tastes. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions, making it easy for home cooks of all skill levels to create this delicious and colorful dish.

Let's cook with our recipes!

APRICOT CHICKEN PASTA



Apricot Chicken Pasta image

"To come up with this pasta dish, I combined two of my husband's favorite things-apricots and chicken," says Elaine Sweet of Dallas, Texas. "It's not only delicious but a snap to prepare, too."

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/4 cup dried apricots, cut into thin strips
4-1/2 teaspoons sherry or reduced-sodium chicken broth
1 cup uncooked bow tie pasta
1/4 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
1-1/2 teaspoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2-1/4 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
1 green onion, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, bring apricots and sherry to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 3 minutes or until apricots are tender. Cool. , Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute mushrooms in oil until tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute longer. Reduce heat to medium. Add the chicken, cream and soy sauce; cook and stir for 5 minutes. , Remove from the heat. Stir in the cheese, almonds, onion, salt, pepper and apricots. Drain pasta; toss with chicken mixture.

Nutrition Facts :

LEMONY FARRO PASTA SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND MINT



Lemony Farro Pasta Salad With Goat Cheese and Mint image

Combining rice-shaped orzo with chewy farro makes for a very satisfying pasta salad, with diverse textures and a nutty flavor. Even better, you can cook the farro and orzo in the same pot, and they can be dressed up to a day in advance. Use this basic recipe as a template for your own combinations. Here, a mix of creamy goat cheese, sweet dried apricots and sliced almonds are tossed with fresh herbs and a mildly spicy lemon dressing. But add what you have and what you love; the orzo and farro can take it, with grace. You can dress the orzo and farro mixture up to one day ahead, but don't add the remaining ingredients until just before serving. The recipe feeds a crowd, so if you're not making it for a party, consider halving everything, or plan on eating leftovers for lunch all week long.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories     dinner, lunch, weekday, pastas, salads and dressings, main course, side dish

Time 45m

Yield 10 to 14 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Kosher salt
1 cup farro
2 bay leaves
1 pound orzo
3/4 cup diced dried apricots
3/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
3/4 cup thinly sliced celery
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup sliced almonds
2 cups baby spinach leaves (2 ounces)
1 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese (4 ounces)
1/2 cup torn mint leaves
1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large lemons
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more as needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more to taste
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

Steps:

  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Add farro and bay leaves and let simmer for 15 minutes. Add orzo to the pot and continue to simmer until farro and pasta are cooked through but still al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes longer.
  • While farro is cooking, prepare the dressing: Finely grate zest from the lemons, and place zest in a large bowl. Squeeze juice from 1 1/2 lemons and add to zest along with salt, pepper and red-pepper flakes, whisking to combine. Gradually whisk in oil. Taste and add more salt or lemon juice from the other lemon half, or both, if needed.
  • Drain farro-pasta mixture, discarding bay leaves. Add to bowl with dressing and toss well. Stir in apricots. Let farro and pasta cool, soaking up the dressing. This can be done up to 1 day in advance. Store in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before proceeding.
  • In a small bowl, combine onions, celery, 3 tablespoons lemon juice and a large pinch of salt. Let sit while the pasta cools, at least 20 minutes.
  • Just before serving, add onion mixture and almonds to the bowl with the farro and pasta and toss well. Gently fold in spinach, goat cheese, mint and parsley. Taste and add more lemon, red-pepper flakes or salt if needed.
  • Drizzle with olive oil and freshly ground black pepper before serving.

APRICOT SALAD



Apricot Salad image

Colorful gelatin salad adds a spot of brightness to any table. It blends well with this holiday feast. We children didn't know if it should be a salad or dessert, with its smooth texture and delicate flavor.-Fae Fisher, Callao, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts     Side Dishes

Time 20m

Yield 10 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 packages (3 ounces each) apricot gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup whole milk
1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple, undrained
1-3/4 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
Canned apricots and fresh mint leaves, optional

Steps:

  • Dissolve gelatin in boiling water; set aside. Beat cream cheese until smooth; gradually beat in milk until smooth. Stir in gelatin. Add pineapple, mixing well. Refrigerate., When mixture begins to thicken, fold in whipped topping. Pour into a 2-1/2-qt. serving bowl. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. If desired, serve with canned apricots and fresh mint leaves.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 235 calories, Fat 11g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 121mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (29g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 4g protein.

ORZO SALAD WITH FRESH APRICOTS, PISTACHIOS AND GINGER OIL



Orzo Salad with Fresh Apricots, Pistachios and Ginger Oil image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 25m

Yield 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

8 ounces (a scant 1 1/3 cups) orzo
1 cup fresh apricots (about 4), peeled and diced or 4 ounces dried apricots, julienned
1 teaspoon chopped fresh coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/3 cup sliced toasted almonds
4 tablespoons ginger oil
squeeze of half lemon
salt and freshly ground pepper

Steps:

  • Bring a medium-size pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add orzo and cook about 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain immediately and rinse with cold water.
  • Place the orzo in a bowl and combine with the fresh apricots, fresh and ground coriander, scallions and almonds. Toss with 4 to 5 tablespoons of the ginger oil, until the pasta is just moist. Season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice on the salad and mix.

APRICOT SALAD



Apricot Salad image

This is a great salad for the holidays due to the very festive orange color.

Provided by Cindy Carnes

Categories     Desserts     Specialty Dessert Recipes     Dessert Salad Recipes     Jell-O® Salad

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 (6 ounce) package apricot flavored Jell-O® mix
⅔ cup white sugar
⅔ cup water
2 (4 ounce) jars apricot baby food
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
⅓ cup chopped pecans
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Steps:

  • In a small saucepan, combine gelatin, sugar and water. Bring to a boil and mix until dissolved. Remove from heat, add baby food and pineapple with juice. Stir, set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, combine the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk, mix together until smooth. Pour into fruit mixture and whisk together.
  • Stir in pecans and pour into a 9x13 inch pan. Refrigerate until chilled. Top with thawed whipped topping if desired. Sprinkle with pecans to decorate and cut into squares.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256 calories, Carbohydrate 37.8 g, Cholesterol 21.1 mg, Fat 10.9 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 4 g, SaturatedFat 6.8 g, Sodium 102.6 mg, Sugar 35 g

Tips:

  • Use ripe apricots: Ripe apricots are sweeter and have a more intense flavor than unripe apricots. They are also softer, making them easier to cut and mix into the salad.
  • Choose a good quality pasta: The type of pasta you use can make a big difference in the final dish. Look for a pasta that is made with high-quality ingredients and has a good texture.
  • Don't overcook the pasta: Pasta that is overcooked will be mushy and will not hold its shape well in the salad. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, or until it is al dente (firm to the bite).
  • Use a variety of vegetables: This will add color, texture, and flavor to the salad. Some good options include cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, and zucchini.
  • Make a flavorful dressing: The dressing is what brings all the flavors of the salad together. Make sure to use a dressing that is flavorful and complements the other ingredients in the salad.
  • Chill the salad before serving: This will help the flavors to meld and will make the salad more refreshing.

Conclusion:

Apricot pasta salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With a few simple tips, you can make a delicious and satisfying apricot pasta salad that will be enjoyed by everyone.

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