Old Pasta Salad Review

[Grace]

I had a hankering for pasta salad yesterday, and I just so happened to have the ingredients for this one one hand. It was delicious - a repeater, and I did add a few things, which I would do again.


CookWare(tm) from Cooking Light(r)

Artichoke-and-Pasta Salad

SOURCE: Cooking Light YEAR: April 1999 PAGE: 108

INGREDIENTS FOR 6 SERVINGS:
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and divided
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups cooked radiatore (about 5 ounces uncooked short coiled pasta)
2 cups thinly sliced spinach
1 cup chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup (1 ounce) crumbled feta cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Combine 2 artichoke hearts, olive oil, and the next 6 ingredients (olive oil through garlic) in a blender or food processor, and process until mixture is smooth.

2. Chop the remaining artichoke hearts. Combine the chopped artichokes, pasta, spinach, and chopped tomato in a large bowl. Pour pureed artichoke mixture over pasta mixture, and toss well to coat. Cover and chill 2 hours. Sprinkle with feta cheese. Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup).

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
CALORIES 153 (23% from fat); FAT 3.9g (sat 1.1g, mono 1.9g, poly 0.5g); PROTEIN 5.9g; CARB 24.9g; FIBER 1.8g; CHOL 4mg; IRON 2.2mg; SODIUM 137mg; CALC 70mg


My changes: I added a tablespoon or so of white wine vinegar to the dressing mixture, and I added 2 Tblsp. or so of chopped kalamata olives to the salad. Oh, and the recipe didn't call for any salt??? So I added a good pinch of salt to the dressing too. And I may have added another pinch after I stirred it all up and tasted it. Of course I used extra garlic! :D And lastly, I used whole wheat radiatore, instead of regular. But it's delish, and easy, and low calorie for a fairly generous serving.

I give it an 8, and will keep it on my favorite list for a quick side dish for grilling out during the summer. I served it with Greek Style Burgers from a couple years ago (another favorite of mine). Yum.

[Terrytx]

Thanks for the review. I love pasta salad, and I am always on the look out for the extra good one. I will put the burgers and salad on my menu soon!

[CKL]

Excellent! I'm going to try this as well (have all ingredients on hand and need to use up the last of the feta and tomatoes). Thanks for the post and review.

CK

[Susan]

This is one of our favorites! I've shared the recipe every time I take it to a potluck event. YUM!!!! :D

[Jasmine-Rose]

Isn't it funny how, because of this BB, we sometimes find ourselves thinking of complete strangers? Anyway, I'll be making Spring Tortellini Salad in the morning - it always makes me think of you :) .

- E.

[BlueMoose]

Thanks for the recipe and review, Grace. It looks really yummy!:)

[Grace]

Hee Hee! Too funny, Jasmine-Rose! Enjoy that Tortellini Salad - I do love that one too. Looks like I'll have to be making that one again soon now! :rolleyes: Thanks for thinking of me! And that happens to me a LOT with this board - I think of lots of different people for lots of different reasons! But I enjoy that I "know" so many wonderful people! :D

[boisewinesnob]

I have made this quite a few times lately so I was going to post a review. I am glad I first ran a search to see if anybody else has reviewed it lately!
This is one of my favorite pasta salads....thanks Grace, for doing the review :)

Suzy

[kima]

I call it Grace's Tortellini Salad!:)

[boisewinesnob]

Hi Maureen. I was talking about the artichoke one.....what's the tortellini one?

[kima]

Sorry-Jasmine Rose mentioned the CL Spring Tortellini Salad. I know it is one of Grace's favorite recipes and I made it on her recommendation. I love it too. If you do a search there will be lots of threads about it!

[Grace]

Ha ha, Maureen! I DO love that salad! :rolleyes: :D :p . And Susan, where've ya been? I thought everyone knew I loved that salad - I post about it so darned much!! :D Everyone makes fun of me because I'm always recommending it! :rolleyes:

I definitely like the Spring Tortellini Salad MUCH better than the Artichoke salad, if that's any frame of reference!

[Linda in MO]

I made this last week to take to my sorority salad supper and it was really good. I doubled the recipe and also doubled the feta (4 oz. for the doubled recipe) and added extra garlic and lemon juice. I also added a splash of white wine vinegar and a good amount of kosher salt per Grace's recommendation. And I used about 4x the amount of fresh basil for the dried. A repeater for sure. Just be sure to adjust the seasonings after it has chilled. It would also be good with grape tomatoes after tomato season is over.