ISO your fave pasta salad/ cold pasta dinners, etc

[JamieMarie]

I'm hosting playgroup in a few weeks and want to have fruit and pasta salad since the weather is getting so warm here.

If you have any pasta salad recipes you would like to recommend please post them here!

TIA! :)

[Shancarey]

Pesto Pasta Salad

Package of Fusilli or Penne
Prepared Pesto Sauce
Tomatos (diced)
Fresh Mozzerella Cheese (cubed)
Kalamata Olives (optional)

Prepare pasta according to package. Mix in pesto sauce, tomatoes, fresh mozzerella cheese and olives.

Yum!

[DebbieL]

Mine is simple.

1 lb. tri colored rotini pasta
1 bottle of Wishbone Italian dressing
Shredded Carrots
Frozen chopped Broccoli (thawed)
Small can of sliced olives

Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse in cold water. Add the shredded carrots, broccoli and olives. Pour the dressing over it. Let it sit for at least 4 hours in the fridge but it's better the next day.

NOTE: I don't measure any of the veggies. Just use as much as you think looks good.

[hunter]

This salad just screams "Summer is here!" Only do this salad if you have good-quality, very fresh, tomatoes & basil, a very flavorful olive oil, and fresh (not that icky dried stuff) Parmesan. If not, make something else.

One pound Fusilli pasta (or other fun shape)
Extra virgin olive oil
Roma tomatoes, diced
Fresh basil, shredded
Fresh lemon juice
Fresh Parmesan cheese, shredded
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook the pasta and drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Put into a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and stir to prevent sticking. Add tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, Parmesan, and a sprinkle of salt & pepper. Stir carefully, then taste. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt or pepper as desired. Cover and chill for at least an hour so the flavors can come together. Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

~~~~~~~

I also do a pesto pasta salad similar to the one Shancarey posted. I find straight pesto to be too rich for a cold salad, so I thin it down about 2 parts pesto to 1 part olive oil. I also use sun-dried tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes.

[KariLynn]

Mine is similar to the others, but I use tortellini...

1 pkg frozen cheese tortellini
1 pkg prepared Good Seasons Italian dressing
1 C fresh broccoli florets
1/2 C black olives, sliced
1 jar marinated artichoke hearts
1 carrot, sliced thin
1 green pepper, diced
1 C cherry tomatoes, halved

Cook tortellini according to pkg directions. Add the broccoli to the boiling pasta the last 3 minutes of cooking time. Drain broccoli and pasta and run cool water over to cool. In a large bowl, mix the last 5 ingredients together. Add broccoli and pasta. Chill for 2 hours or overnight. Stir before serving, and sprinkle w/ fresh parmesean.

[JamieMarie]

Yummy! They all sound great, thanks! I just may have to make some soon, I don't know if I can wait a few weeks since now I'm craving some! :D

[Dugie5]

Just wanted to add another good one.

1 lb pasta (I usually use ziti)
Kens ceasar salad dressing
cucumber cut up
feta cheese crumbled

simple and yummy!

[Birdy]

Here's one make throughout the summer months. I grow basil in the yard and use lots of fresh basil in this.

1 lb penne pasta, cooked al dente
1 cup fresh asparagus tips
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 bunch basil, chopped
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil
cubed mozerrella

saute asparagus tips and garlic in oil. salt and pepper. in bowl combine all ingredients. toss to mix. refrigerate 1 hour or longer before serving.

can also add grilled chicken or salmon.

[Loril]

Here's my favorite:

1 box noodles -usually use Rotini, but any kind will do.
1 lb of ham, cubed
1 lb of turkey, cubed (you can get the "ends" at the deli for reduced price)
couple cucumbers, cubed
cherry tomatoes, halved
120z shredded cheese (I usually use mexican blend for the extra zip)

combine all ingrediants except the cheese. Mix mayo w/pickle juice (I do not measure but mabe 1/2 cup to 1 cup mayo with about 3 tablespoons of pickle juice) add garlic to the mayo and mix into salad. Sprinkle cheese on the top. My kids love this one.

[Christine]

Tuna w/ pasta....

Box of tri color rotini
1-2 cans of tuna
onions
grapes(if desired..I don't use them but my mother does)
italian dressing
mayo

Cook pasta as directions state
let cool
marinate in Italian dressing
add mayo, tuna, grapes and onions

Enjoy

[sdipert]

Catalina Pasta Salad


16 Oz of Pasta (I use the elbow mac b/c it is easier for ds to pick up?
1 bottle of Catalina Salad dressing
12oz of Shredded Chedder Cheese
1 Large green pepper
1 small Onion
1 Cucumber

Cook and drain pasta and let cool to room temp then put the bottle of dressing and cut up peppers, onion, and cucumber. I guess you could add other veggies if you like.

[ShannonB25]

It's HOT out here in northern Cali, 103 degrees at the moment and our air conditioner barely works :( So...I'm looking for cold dishes, or at least easy ones that are tasty and dont' require me to turn on the oven.

Any ideas appreciated....

Thanks in advance!

[djk42]

Cooked bag/box or tricolor rotini
chopped pepperoni
chopped broccoli
diced olives
salt, pepper, parsley, basil
italian dressing

HTH

[SillyMama]

1 box - Tri-color rotini pasta
1 bag - California blend vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)
1 can - sliced black olives
1 small red onion, thinly sliced.
1 bottle of Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
Mayonnaise
Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.

You can add whatever else you want to the pasta salad to jazz it up.

[Queenie]

Rotini tossed with Nayonaise (vegan mayonnaise), balsamic vinegar, little pieces of lettuce, toasted sesame seeds, cooked or canned chickpeas, black olives sliced in half.

[KariLynn]

Cold cooked long grain rice, frozen peas, diced celery, diced red pepper, a tomato, and seasoned rice wine vinegar. Add some shredded cooked chicken and serve in a lettuce bowl.

Make it Tex-mex by adding corn, black beans, and shredded cheddar.

Make it Italian by using Italian dressing, pepperoni slices, and black olives.

Make it Oriental by using green onion, celery, cashews, and sesame seeds.

[Jime´s mom]

My favorite is: zitty, peas, tuna, shredded carrots, cilanter, mayo, salt and lemon, just mix everything together.

1 box tri-color rotini, 1 can corn, ham, 1 can asparagus and mayo. Mix everything together, add salt to taste.

[ShannonB25]

My fave new pasta salad is pretty easy:

Fusilli Summer Salad :)

Combine the following in a large mixing bowl:
*1 box fusilli pasta, cooked, drained, and cooled
*1 bunch broccoli, steamed and chopped into small pieces
*1 small package slivered almonds (I brown them in the oven on 450 for about 15 mins to get a nice roasted flavor)
*1 small can sliced olives, drained

To the above, add about 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (I use light and it tastes great!) plus 1/2 cup balsamic vinegrette (I use the Good Seasons Italian mix prepared with balsamic vinegar.

Add salt and pepper to taste, toss lightly to blend flavors well.

You may need to add a bit more balsamic vinegrette after it sits in the fridge for awhile, because it does tend to absorb the liquid.

This is YUMMY! I eat it quite frequently in the summer time, and my kids love it, too :)

Let me know if anyone tries it though. It's one of my little inventions that i'm proud of.

[semisweet]

bumping because I might not be the only one looking for these things.