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.
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APRICOT CHICKEN PASTA
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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