Indulge in a symphony of flavors with our delectable pasta salad, a culinary masterpiece that tantalizes your taste buds with every bite. This vibrant dish combines the perfect balance of textures and flavors, making it an ideal choice for picnics, potlucks, or light summer meals. With a medley of tender pasta, juicy sun-dried tomatoes, succulent olives, and creamy mozzarella cheese, this salad offers a delightful burst of freshness and zest. Drizzled with a tangy vinaigrette dressing, each forkful promises an explosion of Mediterranean flavors that will leave you craving for more. So, embark on a culinary journey and discover the secrets behind this irresistible pasta salad, featuring three variations to suit your preferences. From a classic rendition to a vegetarian delight and a protein-packed version, these recipes cater to every palate, ensuring a culinary experience that is both satisfying and memorable.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
SUN-DRIED TOMATO & FRESH MOZZARELLA PASTA SALAD
A great non mayo pasta salad that's a little more posh than the norm. Especially nice if you are a fan of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.
Provided by kleigh83
Categories Lunch/Snacks
Time 21m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Bring large pot of water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, make dressing: combine all dressing ingredients.
- Process until sun dried tomatoes are coarsely chopped.
- Transfer to small bowl and set aside.
- Add one teaspoon of salt and pasta to boiling water, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Cook until pasta is tender (about 11 min.) and drain well.
- Transfer to a large serving bowl.
- Add dressing to hot pasta and toss to coat.
- Let cool, stirring occasionally.
- Add tomatoes, mozzarella,basil, Parmesan, and olives.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Toss to mix and serve at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 446.2, Fat 21.1, SaturatedFat 6.6, Cholesterol 27.9, Sodium 401.9, Carbohydrate 47.4, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 2.4, Protein 17.1
PASTA SALAD WITH MOZZARELLA, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND OLIVES
This looks like a great summer salad... and no mayo! Haven't tried it yet. From epicurious web site.
Provided by Yogi8
Categories European
Time 35m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Blend first 5 ingredients in processor till tomatoes are coarsely chopped and set dressing aside.
- Cook pasta till tender but still firm to bite, drain, transfer to large bowl.
- Add dressing to hot pasta, toss to coat.
- Cool pasta, stirring occasionally.
- Add fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, parmesan and olives, toss.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Can be made 6 hours ahead.
- Cover, chill.
- Bring to room temp.
- before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 475.5, Fat 22.9, SaturatedFat 7.7, Cholesterol 33.4, Sodium 487.7, Carbohydrate 47.8, Fiber 3.1, Sugar 3.1, Protein 19.6
PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
Steps:
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt, and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and basil, and toss well.
PASTA SALAD WITH MOZZARELLA, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND OLIVES
Yield Makes 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until tomatoes are coarsely chopped. Set dressing aside.
- Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Transfer to large bowl. Add dressing to hot pasta; toss to coat. Cool, stirring occasionally. Add chopped fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, Parmesan and olives; toss. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
PASTA SALAD
A dear friend gave me this recipe many years ago and I've been making it ever since. It's great for barbecues.
Provided by Cyndie
Categories Salad Pasta Salad Italian Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 13h55m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
- Whisk together the salad spice mix and Italian dressing.
- In a salad bowl, combine the pasta, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and olives. Pour dressing over salad; toss and refrigerate overnight.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 400.1 calories, Carbohydrate 39 g, Cholesterol 2.7 mg, Fat 24.8 g, Fiber 3.6 g, Protein 7.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.4 g, Sodium 1904.2 mg, Sugar 8.3 g
DOUBLE-TOMATO PASTA SALAD
For full-spectrum tomato flavor, this pasta salad pairs fresh tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes. The sun-dried tomato oil and the water that's released from salted tomatoes serve as a built-in dressing. Nuts and herbs add crunch and freshness, but you should feel free to add more embellishments right before serving, like mozzarella or shaved Parmesan, white beans or chickpeas, sardines or another tinned fish, or briny condiments like capers or olives.
Provided by Ali Slagle
Categories dinner, easy, lunch, weeknight, pastas, salads and dressings, main course
Time 35m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Holding back the sun-dried tomatoes with your fingers, drain the oil from the jar into a large pot. Coarsely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the pot, along with the nuts and olive oil. Set over medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the nuts are toasted, 5 to 6 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl (reserve the pot), then stir in the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
- Fill the reserved pot with water (no need to wash) and bring to a boil. Season water with salt, add the pasta and cook until just past al dente. (The pasta will not cook further in the sauce.) Drain the pasta.
- While the water is coming to a boil, coarsely chop the ripe tomatoes. Add to the sun-dried tomato mixture, season with 1 teaspoon salt and stir to combine. (Tomato mixture can be made up to 2 hours ahead.)
- Add the drained pasta to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Let sit until room temperature, about 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. Pasta salad will keep up to 3 days if refrigerated.
- When ready to eat, taste the pasta salad. If flavors are muted, add salt and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. If it's too sweet, add black pepper and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. Stir in the greens and eat.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients for the best flavor. Look for fresh mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, and olives.
- If you don't have time to make your own dressing, use a store-bought Italian dressing.
- Add some cooked chicken or shrimp to the salad for a heartier meal.
- Serve the salad immediately or chill it for later.
- Garnish the salad with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Conclusion:
This pasta salad is a delicious and refreshing summer dish that is perfect for potlucks, picnics, or barbecues. It is also a great way to use up leftover pasta. With its colorful ingredients and flavorful dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy summer dish, give this pasta salad a try. You won't be disappointed!
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