Best 3 Pasta Salad With Melon Pancetta And Ricotta Salata Recipes

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Indulge in the refreshing and flavorful Pasta Salad with Melon, Pancetta, and Ricotta Salata, a delightful combination of sweet, salty, and savory flavors. This vibrant salad features perfectly cooked pasta tossed with juicy melon, crispy pancetta, and tangy ricotta salata, creating a delightful medley of textures. The dressing, a harmonious blend of olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs, elevates the salad with its bright and zesty notes.

Accompanying this main recipe are two equally enticing variations. The Melon, Prosciutto, and Burrata Salad offers a luxurious twist, combining sweet melon with salty prosciutto and creamy burrata cheese. For a vegetarian option, the Melon and Feta Salad delivers a burst of freshness, featuring juicy melon, tangy feta cheese, and a refreshing mint dressing.

These recipes offer a symphony of flavors and textures, perfect for summer gatherings, light lunches, or as a refreshing side dish. So, gather your ingredients, let your taste buds embark on a culinary journey, and experience the delightful harmony of flavors in these exquisite melon salads.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

PASTA WITH LEMON, HERBS AND RICOTTA SALATA



Pasta With Lemon, Herbs and Ricotta Salata image

Here's a light, brothy pasta with chicken stock, lemon zest, mint and ricotta salata that Amanda Hesser brought to The Times in 2001. It's easy yet elegant; perfect for a impromptu weeknight dinner party. If you can get your hands on a Meyer lemon, do so and use that, but the recipe works just as well with a standard lemon from the corner deli.

Provided by Amanda Hesser

Categories     dinner, weekday, pastas, main course

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 clove garlic, peeled and lightly smashed
Grated zest of 1 lemon (Meyer, if available)
Juice of 1 lemon (Meyer, if available), plus more to taste
Coarse sea salt or kosher salt
1 pound pappardelle, broken into 2-inch pieces, or fusilli
3 tablespoons chopped mint
2 tablespoons chopped marjoram
1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds or tarragon
Extra-virgin olive oil, for sprinkling
6 ounces ricotta salata
Coarsely ground black pepper

Steps:

  • Fill a large pot with water and add enough salt so that you can taste it. Bring to a boil. Pour the chicken broth into a small saucepan, drop in the garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce by half. Remove garlic. Shut off the heat; add the lemon zest and juice. Season to taste. It should be highly seasoned because this will be the sauce for the pasta. Keep warm. Place 4 serving bowls in a low oven.
  • When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. After five minutes, ladle out about 1 cup of the cooking water and reserve. Drain the pasta, shake, then return it to the pot. Place over low heat and pour in the chicken broth. Sprinkle in the mint, marjoram and fennel and a little olive oil. Stir. The pasta should be brothy and lemony. Add some of the reserved cooking water, salt and more lemon juice, if needed.
  • Spoon into bowls so that the pasta is lying in a bit of broth. Crumble the ricotta over top, sprinkle with a dash more oil and grind pepper over the top. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 530, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 92 grams, Fat 8 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 23 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 728 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams

PASTA SALAD WITH RICOTTA SALATA AND BROCCOLINI



Pasta Salad with Ricotta Salata and Broccolini image

Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network

Categories     side-dish

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 bundles broccolini
1/2 pound cavatappi (twists) pasta, cooked to al dente
1 shallot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, a couple of glugs
1/3 to 1/2 pound wedge ricotta salata
6 sprigs fresh thyme, about 2 tablespoons of leaves stripped from stems
Coarse salt and pepper
1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved

Steps:

  • Trim and discard the bottom 1/2-inch from the broccolini. Then cut the broccolini into 1-inch pieces. Steam broccolini covered in small skillet in 1/2 inch boiling water for 3 minutes, cold shock, and drain. Combine broccolini and pasta in a bowl.
  • Return pan to stove over low heat and saute shallots and garlic in oil 2 minutes. Pour warm oil over pasta and broccolini. Crumble ricotta salata over pasta. Sprinkle the pasta with thyme, salt, and pepper, and toss to combine. Adjust seasonings and garnish salad with halved grape tomatoes.

PASTA SALAD WITH MELON, PANCETTA, AND RICOTTA SALATA



Pasta Salad with Melon, Pancetta, and Ricotta Salata image

Like the classic combination of melon and prosciutto? Then you'll love this main-course pasta salad.

Provided by Soa Davies

Categories     Salad     Cheese     Pasta     Side     Bake     Kid-Friendly     Quick & Easy     Dinner     Lunch     Ricotta     Melon     Mint     Ham     Summer     Boil     Bon Appétit     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     No Sugar Added     Small Plates

Yield Makes 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 ounces thinly sliced pancetta (Italian bacon)
4 ounces orecchiette (ear-shaped pasta)
Kosher salt
3 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 1/2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 cups 1x1x1/4" pieces peeled melon (any variety)
1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint, divided
3 tablespoons thinly sliced scallion
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
1 ounce ricotta salata (salted dry ricotta), shaved, or crumbled feta
Ingredient info: Look for ricotta salata at Italian markets and some supermarkets.

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 350°F. Arrange pancetta in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until brown and crisp, 20-25 minutes. (Alternatively, place pancetta on folded layers of paper towels on a microwave-proof plate and microwave on high until brown and crisp, about 5 minutes.) Let pancetta stand until cool enough to handle, then break into bite-size pieces.
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in a medium pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta; run under cold water to cool. Drain and set aside.
  • Whisk oil and vinegar in a large bowl. Add half of pancetta, cooked pasta, melon, half of mint, scallion, and red pepper flakes. Toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle remaining pancetta and mint over. Garnish with shaved ricotta salata.

Tips:

  • Choose ripe, juicy melon for the best flavor.
  • If you don't have pancetta, you can substitute prosciutto or bacon.
  • Ricotta salata is a salty, hard cheese that can be found at most Italian specialty stores. If you can't find it, you can substitute Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese.
  • To make the dressing, you can use either white wine vinegar or lemon juice. If you want a sweeter dressing, you can add a little honey or maple syrup.
  • Serve the pasta salad immediately, or chill it for a few hours before serving. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

This pasta salad with melon, pancetta, and ricotta salata is a refreshing and delicious summer dish. It's perfect for a light lunch or dinner, and it's also great for potlucks and picnics. With its sweet melon, salty pancetta, and creamy ricotta salata, this salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.

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