Pasta Salad

[Cafe Denise]

What are your favorite pasta salad recipes?

[amonkeymom]

That does sound good.

Quoting SweetLuci:

 We love this one.

 

Pasta Salad

1 lb. pasta (bow tie is very pretty)

½-1 lb. shrimp

½ lb. asparagus, cut into bite size pieces, steamed then chilled

Grape tomatoes

8-oz small jar artichoke hearts

8 oz. hearts of palm

½ red pepper, julienned

½ cup celery leaves, diced

½ cup sliced green onions

Dressing:

1Tbsp. diced lemon rind

1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

½ cup olive oil

1-2 Tablespoons fresh herb mixture, (I like dill, parsley and chives)

1 tsp. minced fresh garlic

Salt & pepper

Prepare pasta as package directs. Make dressing. Add to pasta. Add rest of ingredients.

Adding just this small amount of shrimp makes it affordable, but it seems luxuriously rich.

[amonkeymom]

Ok... I've got to try this one!

Quoting SweetLuci:

  This is a good one, too.

Creamy Bacon, Tomato and Avocado Pasta Salad

6 slices bacon, chopped into one inch pieces

1/2 pound dried rotini pasta

1/2 cup mayonnaise

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon dried dill

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1 avocado pitted and sliced

Cook bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain. Run cold water over the top until the pasta is cooled.

While your bacon and pasta are cooking, whisk mayonnaise, lemon, salt, garlic powder, pepper and dill together in a bowl.

Stir cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado and reserved bacon into the dressing. Toss to combine. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

[amonkeymom]

I agree about the deli stuff!  Yuck!

Quoting Kelly913:

I hardly every make it, but if it's homemade, I'll eat it.  The premade stuff from the deli section is awful!

[babyboxfish]

ooohh yummy!

Quoting michiganmom116:

....and then there's one that there's no recipe for in my files:

1 box tri color rotini pasta, cooked/drained/cooled

1 pint grape tomatoes

large can black olives, drained & sliced

1/2 head cauliflower, cut into flowerets

head of broccoli, cut into flowerets

3 oz. pepperoni, diced (optional)

1 red onion, diced

6 to 8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Italian salad dressing to taste

Combine all ingredients and chill.

[LancesMom]

Me too and I don't do a lot of pasta.

Quoting amonkeymom:

Ok... I've got to try this one!

Quoting SweetLuci:

  This is a good one, too.

Creamy Bacon, Tomato and Avocado Pasta Salad

6 slices bacon, chopped into one inch pieces

1/2 pound dried rotini pasta

1/2 cup mayonnaise

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon white pepper

1 teaspoon dried dill

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1 avocado pitted and sliced

Cook bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Strain. Run cold water over the top until the pasta is cooled.

While your bacon and pasta are cooking, whisk mayonnaise, lemon, salt, garlic powder, pepper and dill together in a bowl.

Stir cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, sliced avocado and reserved bacon into the dressing. Toss to combine. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

[marihla]

 I add mayo, mustard, seasoning spice, pepper, with red pepper, pickles and onions. My husband's favorite!