Creamy Pasta Salad

Name: Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound of dried pasta; 1/2 cup of red onion; 2 celery stick; 1 cup of cherry tomato; 1 cup of red bell pepper; 1/2 cup of olive; 1/3 cup of basil; 1 cup of mayonnaise; 3/4 cups of sour cream; 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons of vinegar; 1 clove of garlic; 1/2 teaspoon of salt; 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon of oregano

A fresh and easy summer recipe: Creamy Pasta Salad. A delicious meal with colorful vegetables and mayonnaise dressing.

American Cuisine

December 12, 2021

Difficulty Easy

Servings 8 people

Preparation 15 mins

Cooking 10 mins

Total 25 mins

Recipe Contents

Ingredients Directions Nutrition Equipments Tips

Ingredients

1 pound of dried pasta
1/2 cup of red onion
2 celery stick
1 cup of cherry tomato
1 cup of red bell pepper
1/2 cup of olive
1/3 cup of basil
1 cup of mayonnaise
3/4 cups of sour cream
1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of vinegar
1 clove of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of oregano

Directions

Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, thyme, and pepper in a bowl to prepare the creamy salad dressing.
Then chop tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers and celery with a vegetable slider. You can also dice the vegetables or cut them into thin slices.
Add hot water and salt to a pot. Cook the pasta a little past al dente. After the pasta is cooked, drain the water with the help of a colander and rinse with cold water.
Transfer pasta and vegetables in a large bowl. Then combine ⅔ of the salad dressing with the pasta mixture.
Pour the rest of the creamy salad dressing over the vegetables and pasta before serving. Serve cold or at room temperature with fresh basil and green/black olives.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 Pasta Salad

Serves 8

Amount Per Serving

Calories359

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 18.4 g23.6%

Cholesterol 59 mg19.7%

Sodium 395 mg17.2%

Protein 7.8 g15.6%

Potassium 199 mg4.2%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Tips

Choose the right size and shape of pasta. Elbow macaroni, small shells or even spiral shapes work nicely.
Curved and short pasta varieties such as fusilli, farfalle, rotini and penne are ideal for pasta salad. Its small size makes it easy to combine with sauce and serve.
Do not choose fresh pasta,spaghetti and linguine pasta. While these types of pasta are delicious, they won't be the best choice for pasta salad as they don't hold the sauce well.
Do not overcook or undercook the pasta. Read the package directions for the pasta you choose. If the pasta is undercooked, it will be hard; If it cooks too much, it will be mush.
Cook the pasta for one more minute. In this way, the pasta will remain soft while it cools. Otherwise, the pasta will harden as it cools.
Dress the pasta salad twice. Pour ⅔ of the sauce first while the pasta is hot, so the pasta will absorb the sauce easily. Then, before serving the salad, pour the rest of the salad dressing and mix the ingredients so the salad doesn't dry out.
Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water before mixing it with the salad dressing. In this way, the pasta is removed from starch and the salad does not become sticky or lumpy.
Season the pasta salad well. The best time to do this is to season the pasta while it cooks. Use extra salt water, the pasta will be well seasoned when cooked. Check the amount of seasoning before adding sauce and other ingredients.
You can increase the amount of vegetables in the pasta salad. You can add peas, tomatoes, corn, cauliflower or broccoli.
You can add chopped dill pickle, croutons or pickled bread.
If you like your salad dressing sweeter, you can add extra honey.
You can use low-fat mayonnaise for a lower-calorie pasta salad. If you wish, you can choose sour cream or yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
You can use olive oil to make salad dressing.
You can substitute white vinegar with lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
You can prepare Italian Pasta Salad by adding ham, salami and grated parmesan cheese to this recipe.
You can serve it cold or at room temperature.

Rate This Recipe

Pasta Salad is prepared with one or more types of pasta, vegetables and a mayonnaise-based dressing. It is served as an appetizer, side dish or main course. It is a practical and delicious recipe especially for summer.

This recipe is perfect for BBQ parties or family dinners. Try this Creamy Pasta Salad, which you can serve cold or warm. Enjoy your meal.

Equipment for this recipe

Mixing Bowls

Cutting Board

Large Strainer

Chef Knife

What Kind of Pasta Is Best for Pasta Salad?

Choosing pasta is important to make the best Pasta salad. Here are some things to consider when using pasta:

Choose dried pasta instead of fresh pasta. While fresh pasta is delicious, dried pasta is ideal for pasta salad. Dried pasta will last longer.

Pasta shape and size are important. The pasta you choose should be angled, curved and short pasta types. This way it absorbs the sauce better. Varieties such as fusilli, farfalle, rotini and penne are ideal for pasta salad.

Tips for Cooking Pasta for Making Pasta Salad

Once you've made your pasta selection, keep these tips in mind when cooking pasta for pasta salad:

Use salted water to boil the pasta. In this way, the taste of the pasta will be better.

Cook the pasta for one more minute. Cook the pasta a minute longer than al dente, as you won't be cooking the pasta in a sauce and serving it hot. Make sure it's not flaky. Because pasta hardens as it cools, this extra cooking time will keep it moist.

Dress the pasta twice. After cooking the pasta, mix it with the sauce. In this way, the sauce absorbs better and becomes more delicious. Also add the rest of the salad dressing just before serving and ensure the salad is fresh.

How to Store Pasta Salad?

You can store this creamy pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This way it will last for 3-4 days.

Is Pasta Salad Prepared in Advance? Yes. Pasta salad can be prepared in advance. However, it is best to prepare it the day you will consume it. If you want to prepare the Pasta Salad ahead of time, add the fresh vegetables, cheese and cream sauce afterward. Store pasta, vegetables and salad dressing in separate containers in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with Pasta Salad?

Pasta salad is often served as a side dish. This salad goes well with smoked meats, shrimp, grilled chicken or sandwiches. It can also be served as a main dish. It can be consumed with baguettes, grilled vegetables or meat.

Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Pasta Salad:

Recipe byPetite Gourmets