The ideal recipe for the season is summer pasta salad. Pasta salad is a great choice when it comes to summer side dishes. It’s easy to make, versatile, and the perfect summer salad to serve with anything delicacies, from burgers to cheese and crackers.
This classic summer pasta salad is loaded with fresh herbs and summer veggies. The beautiful combination of vibrant pasta, colourful vegetables, and savory dressing always hits the spot. All you have to do is to simply look for the best fruits and vegetables that are in season, such as crisp radishes, juicy tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Table of Contents
How to Make Summer Pasta Salad
Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 35 minutes Servings: 6 to 8
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INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound of uncooked pasta
- Olive oil, 1 cup
- 1/3 cup of wine vinegar (white or red vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon of honey (or sugar)
- Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons
- 4 Persian cucumbers, finely sliced after being cut in half lengthwise (2 cups)
- 2 pints of cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup of 1 medium shallot, thinly sliced
- 2 celery stalks, thinly cut (about 1 cup)
- 2 cups of finely cut radishes
- Freshly ground black pepper and Kosher salt
Fresh herbs: You can use 1/2 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley, 1 roughly chopped chives, or 1/3 cup roughly chopped fresh dill.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place a big saucepan over medium-high heat and bring a large amount of salted water to a boil.
- Add the pasta and cook it until it is al dente, following the instructions on the package. To cool the pasta and stop the cooking process, drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water. Place aside
- In a large bowl, add the olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, 3/4 teaspoon pepper, and 2 teaspoons salt. Blend together
- Add the pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, celery, shallot, fresh herbs. Mix ingredients together, cover, and refrigerate for up to 8 hours to marinate, or at least 30 minutes at room temperature.
- Add salt and pepper as desired. Enjoy! Serve at room temperature.
WHAT GOES BEST WITH PASTA SALAD
- Hamburgers – If you don’t want to serve beef, BBQ chicken is a great alternative. When serving pasta salad at an outdoor party, barbecued chicken is very ideal!
- Chicken Fried
- Barbecued (or Grilled) Hot Dogs
- Italian Pinwheels – These are flattened slices of bread folded in various cheeses and meats. They not only taste fantastic, but they also look amazing.
- Corn on the Cob – Because pasta salad tends to have a soft nature, you’ll want something crunchy to add some contrast. With corn on the con you can never go wrong with simplicity when it comes to making crunchy and mouthwatering summer pasta salad.
- Baked beans – The richness of the pasta salad complements the baked beans’ bounty of sweet, savory, and smokey tastes.
- Deviled eggs – Having deviled eggs is another popular dish. These tasty tiny nibbles are creamy and thick, much like pasta salad.
- Cornbread – Another essential summer dish is cornbread. It pairs well with pasta salad and is quite tasty and substantial.
- Crackers and cheese – You know you can never go wrong with matching cheese with pasta, and this delicious appetizer provides your pasta salad the much-needed crunch.
MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN MAKING PASTA SALAD
Make sure you’re not committing any of these pasta salad mistakes before whipping up a bowl for your upcoming party.
1. Using pasta that is the wrong size and shape
When cooking summer pasta salad, the size and shape of the pasta matters. There are various options to consider when choosing a pasta for your salad.
- Dried spaghetti should be used instead of fresh pasta whenever possible. This is because when combined with dressing and other ingredients, dried pasta maintains its shape nicely.
- Summer pasta salad is best served with short pasta shapes like rotini, fusilli, penne, and farfalle since they have lots of nooks and folds. They have several spots to trap dressing, little ingredients, and herbs in their tiny folds and pockets. They are also simple to prepare and consume.
2. Pasta that is either undercooked or overcooked.
It’s important to remember that the pasta is the centerpiece of this recipe, therefore it must be prepared to perfection. Plan to cook the pasta until it is just past al dente for a properly prepared summer pasta salad. Always keep in mind that if you pull your pasta off too soon, it may become too tough. Likewise, if you cook the pasta for too long, the pasta will become mushy.
3. Not giving the pasta enough seasoning
The flavors in cold pasta salad are frequently milder and call for a bit more seasoning than those in warm pasta. I can assure you that a tasteless summer pasta salad is the last thing you want! It is important to begin seasoning early in order to prevent this.
4. Not adding dressing while the pasta salad is still warm
Your summer pasta salad doesn’t need to cool entirely before the dressing is added, so there’s no need to wait. Warm pasta will more readily absorb the dressing, resulting in a pasta salad that is flavorful and well-seasoned. So, while the pasta is still warm, toss it with about two-thirds of the dressing, and then add the rest just before serving.
SUMMER PASTA SALAD FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Can you put egg in pasta salad?
Yes! One of the best ways to add extra protein and the mouthwatering flavor of hard-boiled eggs to your pasta salad is by adding hard-boiled eggs.
How long does summer pasta salad last in the fridge?
Your summer pasta salad can remain fresh for 4-5 days when kept in an airtight container.
Can I freeze pasta salad?
They are indeed freezer-friendly.
Should you put dressing on pasta salad the night before?
Dressing pasta salad twice is the key to making great pasta salad in advance. For best results, use the dressing for the first time when the pasta is still warm. Think of it like a marinade and only use approximately half the typical quantity of dressing.
How do you fix bland pasta salad?
- Add salt.
- Grate lots of Pecorino or Parmesan Cheese
- Sprinkle it with pepper.
- Drizzle some olive oil over it.
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