ISO TNT Pasta Salad Recipes

[SheRa]

so of course, the search function STILL won't allow us to use quotes to search for a specific thing, so when i search for pasta salad, i get every hit with pasta OR salad in it. i can't track down a "pasta salad" thread.

so i love pasta salad, and definitely want to make one for our upcoming superbowl party. i'd also love to have some TNT recipes to make at home for non-gigantic gatherings, too.

favorites?

TIA!

[Canice]

Really? I searched "titles only" for "pasta salad" and got tons of pasta salad (only) threads. Off to do a little prep work, but have a couple I'll post shortly

[Angelsfan]

Ashley,

This is my current favorite. I always double the dressing. Have a great party!!

-Heather

Supreme Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray
Show: 30 Minute Meals
Episode: Philly Feast

2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
8 fresh white button mushrooms, sliced
1 small green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 stick pepperoni, casing removed and cut into a small dice
1 pound ball fresh mozzarella or fresh smoked mozzarella, diced
20 leaves fresh basil, torn or thinly sliced
1 pound wagon wheel pasta, cooked to al dente and cooled under cold water, then drained
Dressing:
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves or Italian dried seasoning
1 rounded tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, eyeball it
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, peppers, pepperoni, mozzarella, basil and pasta in a big bowl. Whisk garlic salt, oregano or Italian seasoning, tomato paste and vinegar together. Stream in extra-virgin olive oil while continuing to whisk dressing. When oil is incorporated, pour dressing over pasta salad, add a few grinds of black pepper to the bowl, then toss salad to coat evenly. Adjust your seasonings and serve salad. Leftovers make a great lunch or snack the next day!

[Tutalady]

We really enjoy this one:
Cold Noodle Salad
12 oz linguine
2c snow peas, cut in thirds
1 carrot, julienned
1/2c chopped green onion
Dressing:
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3T Rice vinegar
2 1/2 T sesame oil
2 1 /2 T soy sauce
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes`
Cook pasta and add carrots and snowpeas during the last 3 minutes. Drain well. Combine all dressing ingredients stirring til sugar and salt dissolve. Mix all together and serve at room temperature.

And this is our all time favorite because my husband doesn't care for a lot of mayo:
cebox Macaroni Salad`
2c uncooked elbow macaroni
2T lite Olive oil
2T vinegar
1T minced onion
1/2 tsp seasoned salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1c grated cheddar cheese
1/2c mayo
1c drained sweet peas
1c diced celery
1c diced cooked ham or 1 small can drained shrimp
Cook macaroni in salted water til done. Drain and while still warm drizzle and mix well with vinegar and oil. Add onions, celery, seasonings, and cheese. Toss well and gently mix in remaining ingredients. Chill and serve.
Yields:6-8 servings

[Hoodone]

Here's one I like. It's more of a meal than a side dish. I think it would be nice with rotini rather than spaghetti. I also add some lemon. I don't think I would serve it for a party because of the tuna, but DH and I enjoy this at home often.

Spaghetti Salad with Tuna

¾ lb spaghetti, cooked (whole wheat okay)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tsp hot red pepper flakes, optional (aleppo is good)
½ tsp pepper
Salt to taste
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 sweet red or yellow peppers, preferably roasted, diced
2 7-oz. cans tuna, drained and flaked
2 tbsp chopped black olives
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
2 green onions, chopped

Combine olive oil, garlic, pepper flakes, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Stir in tomatoes, peppers, tuna and olives. Add parsley, basil and green onions. When spaghetti is cooked, drain and toss with sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature.

[Bawstinn]

Here are a couple of favorites.

From Cooking Light:

Mediterranean Orzo Salad with Feta Vinaigrette

1 cup orzo
2 cups bagged prewashed baby spinach -- chopped
1/2 cup chopped drained oil-packed sun-dried tomato halves
3 tablespoons chopped red onion
3 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts -- (6-ounce) undrained
3/4 cup feta cheese -- (3 ounces) crumbled and divided

Cook the orzo according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; rinse with cold water. Combine orzo, spinach, and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl.

Drain artichokes, reserving marinade. Coarsely chop artichokes, and add artichokes, reserved marinade, and 1/2 cup feta cheese to orzo mixture, tossing gently to coat. Sprinkle each serving with remaining feta cheese.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups salad and about 1 tablespoon cheese)

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 237 Calories; 7g Fat (26.9% calories from fat); 10g Protein; 33g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 25mg Cholesterol; 472mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1 Fat.

From allrecipes:

Springtime Pasta Salad

8 ounces pasta -- uncooked
1 medium zucchini -- cubed
3 1/2 ounces black olives -- drained
1/2 cup red pepper -- chopped
1/4 cup minced onion
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/4 teaspoons dill weed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.

Place in a large bowl. Add zucchini, olives, red pepper and onion.

Combine remaining ingredients in another bowl; pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 142 Calories; 5g Fat (31.0% calories from fat); 4g Protein; 21g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 7mg Cholesterol; 310mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates.

[jroseanne]

This is one of my favorites! I sub my homemade pesto for the walnut pesto that the recipe calls for. Also, if I'm making it for a party, as a side dish, I leave the chicken out.

Chicken and Farfalle Salad with Walnut Pesto


Total time: 26 minutes. To make sure the walnut pesto ingredients are evenly minced, stop the food processor halfway through processing, and scrape down the sides.


Salad:
2 cups uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta; about 6 ounces)
2 cups cubed cooked skinless, boneless chicken breast
1 cup quartered cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives

Walnut Pesto:
1 cup basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1 1/2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove

Remaining ingredient:
4 curly leaf lettuce leaves

To prepare salad, cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain; rinse with cold water. Combine pasta, chicken, tomatoes, and olives in a large bowl.

To prepare walnut pesto, combine basil and next 6 ingredients (through garlic) in a food processor; pulse 6 times or until finely minced. Add pesto to pasta mixture, tossing gently to coat. Place 1 lettuce leaf on each of 4 plates; top each serving with salad mixture.


Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups salad and 1 lettuce leaf)

CALORIES 374 (30% from fat); FAT 12.5g (sat 2g,mono 5.5g,poly 3.9g); IRON 3.6mg; CHOLESTEROL 60mg; CALCIUM 62mg; CARBOHYDRATE 36.3g; SODIUM 393mg; PROTEIN 29.4g; FIBER 3g

Cooking Light, JUNE 2005

[funniegrrl]

I really like Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta with Roasted Asparagus salad I got from the Everyday Food tv show. Wrote about it on my blog this past summer.

[SheRa]

thanks for the suggestions, everyone!

canice - i have such bad luck with the search function on this site that i forgot there was even an option for "titles only" - i'll check that out! thanks