Cold pasta salads are becoming the trend, especially during hot weather. They are easy to make, packs lots of veggies, and most of all, they have all these amazing flavors that burst into one in your mouth. Another thing about this dish is learning how to make cold pasta salad is surely a breeze, and everyone should try it.
If you are having a hard time finding the best and easiest recipe, especially if you are just a beginner, then this recipe is right for you. Not only is the recipe an easy one, but the flavors and intricate details are sure to uplift your family’s mood whenever you make one for them. See this recipe below!
What Ingredients Should I Put In?
A cold pasta salad is a combination of Italian and Greek styles. What makes it Greek is the appearance of green olives and kalamata, whereas Italian style has some of the finest types of cheese in it, such as parmesan and mozzarella.
Now, if you are wondering whether to ditch the Greek style as you are not fond of green olives or kalamatas, then there’s no problem. There are many vegetables out there that can be a good addition to any cold pasta salad. As long as you know how to make the basic cold pasta salad and you’ve already mastered it, you can mix and match different veggies. Modify it to your heart’s content.
Veggies
Almost all people who know how to make cold pasta salad love their salad to be as colorful and tasty as possible. Bright-colored veggies that complement a salad such as zucchini, cucumber, bell peppers are a must.
You can also add in a chop of parsley or even thinly sliced onions. If you love traditional vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, radish, then it’s okay. As long as you have the idea that it will work, then go for it.
Pasta
Pasta is the main ingredient in every cold pasta salad recipe—the type of pasta that you use matters. So if you want to know how to make cold pasta salad, you have to be familiar with the different types of pasta that are out there for you to use. What people love about their pasta is for it to be chewy and firm. They don’t want to eat a cold pasta salad where the pasta is quite mushy, and it just feels awkward and unpleasant in the mouth. Pastas like farfalle, rotini, and penne are the best.
They have this nook and crannies that lock up the taste and other dressing, making it even more appealing to the eyes and tastebuds. Your choice of pasta will always come down to your preference.
Key Additions
One of the best parts about mastering how to make cold pasta salad is adding different kinds of elements to it. Some people like to modify their cold pasta salad‘s ingredients. Some people like some tanginess to their salad; you can do this by adding some green olives. Other people like their pasta with a kick; you can use pepperoni peppers to achieve this taste. There are so many options to choose from!
Cold Pasta Salad Recipe
This recipe is quite easy, and the ingredients aren’t hard to find. Also, thanks to its ingredients, the overall process of doing it is a breeze.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 cup bell pepper, sliced
- 5 to 6 pieces scallions, thinly sliced
- ½ cup of parsley or basil
- 1 ½ cup of red tomatoes, cut into cubes
- 1 cup of zucchini
- 1 pound of pasta, rotini, farfalle, penne
- 1 cup of cheese, parmesan or mozzarella, grated
- 1 cup of olives, halved
- ½ cup of pepperoni peppers
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup of Olive Oil
- 2 to 4 tablespoons of pepperoni jar juice
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ sea salt, fine
- 1/3 cup of vinegar, white, champagne, or red wine
- 1 tsp of black pepper, ground
Instructions
Step 1: Pour in the water and salt in the large pot and bring to a boil. Add the pasta of your choice and boil until tender. If you don’t know how long the pasta should be cooked, check for the package and look for the recommended time.
Step 2: While cooking the pasta, gather up all the salad dressing ingredients and mix them in a large bowl. First, you whisk your vinegar of choice, drop in your black grounded peppers, pepperoncini juice, salt, and olive oil. Once your pasta is done and drained, place your pasta onto the large bowl as well. Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are well-incorporated.
Step 3: Once step two is done, you can add all the salad ingredients. From the cheese, tomatoes, scallions, olives, parsley, and other herbs of your liking. Mix thoroughly and taste. If the taste isn’t up to par yet, you can add some seasonings such as salt or pepper. Serve it up, and enjoy! That’s how to make a cold pasta salad!
Note: If you have made a large serving of cold pasta salad, you can just refrigerate the salad. The longer it stays on the fridge, the tastier it would be. It can last you up to 5 days in the fridge. On another note, for a more sumptuous and delicious cold pasta salad, you can make it a day before for that profound taste experience.
Conclusion
Learning how to make cold pasta salad is a breeze. This recipe is more than enough to serve the rest of the family in one sitting. Although you can easily master the art of making a cold pasta salad, it is always important to add a little bit of your taste to it.
Finally, making a cold pasta salad for the entire family can easily melt their hearts and satisfy their cravings. Always go for that extra mile and seek some new key additions that may elevate your cold pasta salad to new heights. Find out for more pasta recipes here!