With the bounty of fresh vegetables and herbs from your garden, you can create a delicious and refreshing garden-fresh pasta salad that's perfect for a summer gathering. This vibrant dish combines the flavors of ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, and aromatic basil, all tossed with perfectly cooked pasta and a tangy vinaigrette. Whether you're looking for a light lunch, a side dish for a barbecue, or a potluck contribution, this garden-fresh pasta salad is sure to be a hit.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
GARDEN FRESH PASTA SALAD
This is one of the best tasting salads, I hope that you will enjoy it. Pasta Salads absorb dressing when stored in the refrigerator. A trick to help the salad moist and creamy is to stir some of the reserved pasta cooking water into the chilled salad just before serving. For added flavor, sprinkle salad with bacon bits just before serving.
Provided by Chef mariajane
Categories Low Cholesterol
Time 20m
Yield 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 minutes of the pasta cooking time. Drain, saving 1 cup of the pasta water, rinse pasta and broccoli under cold water. Drain well; place in large bowl.
- Add onions, peppers and tomatoes; mix lightly; add dressing; toss to coat. Cover.
- Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Stir gently just before serving; sprinkle with cheese.
- To keep the salad moist, stir some of the reserve pasta cooking water into the chilled salad just before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 205.7, Fat 1.8, SaturatedFat 0.7, Cholesterol 2.8, Sodium 127.5, Carbohydrate 39.1, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 3.3, Protein 8.3
SUMMER GARDEN PASTA
Provided by Ina Garten
Time 4h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Combine the cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup olive oil, garlic, basil leaves, red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and the pepper in a large bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature for about 4 hours.
- Just before you're ready to serve, bring a large pot of water with a splash of olive oil and 2 tablespoons salt to a boil and add the pasta. Cook al dente according to the directions on the package (be careful - it only takes 2 to 3 minutes!). Drain the pasta well and add to the bowl with the cherry tomatoes. Add the cheese and some extra fresh basil leaves and toss well. Serve in big bowls with extra cheese on each serving.
GARDEN PASTA SALAD
A zesty pasta recipe, with lots of crunchy vegetables.
Provided by L. Gale
Categories Salad 100+ Pasta Salad Recipes Vegetarian Pasta Salad Recipes
Time 1h30m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook pasta in large pot of boiling water until al dente. Rinse under cold water, and drain.
- Mix chopped carrots, celery, cucumber, green pepper, tomatoes, and onion together in large bowl.
- Combine cooled pasta and vegetables together in large bowl. Pour Italian dressing over mixture, add Parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Chill for one hour before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 449.5 calories, Carbohydrate 45.1 g, Cholesterol 3.5 mg, Fat 27.4 g, Fiber 2.5 g, Protein 8.4 g, SaturatedFat 4.9 g, Sodium 1539.7 mg, Sugar 10.6 g
GARDEN-FRESH PASTA SALAD
Ripe vegetables and whole wheat noodles get together for a better-for-you take on pasta salad.
Provided by My Food and Family
Categories Onions
Time 1h30m
Yield 14 servings, 3/4 cup each
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt and adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 min. Drain.
- Rinse pasta mixture with cold water; drain well. Place in large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients except cheese; mix lightly.
- Refrigerate 1 hour. Stir gently before serving; top with cheese.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 180, Fat 4.5 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, TransFat 0 g, Cholesterol 5 mg, Sodium 260 mg, Carbohydrate 0 g, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 0 g, Protein 7 g
GARDEN VEGGIE PASTA SALAD
This recipe pleasantly proves that making pasta salad doesn't have to be a time-consuming task, thanks to the head start from bottled salad dressing.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 20m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, tomatoes, green pepper, celery and onions. In a small bowl, whisk the salad dressing, mayonnaise and pepper. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 259 calories, Fat 15g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 543mg sodium, Carbohydrate 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
GARDEN PASTA SALAD
This salad includes not only garden vegetables but pasta too. It is a great side dish to any meal.-Bernard Bellin, Franklin, Wisconsin
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Lunch
Time 25m
Yield 6-8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain but do not rinse. Return pasta to the pan; add vegetables and toss. Cover for 3-5 minutes. Vegetables will lightly steam in pasta. , Place pasta in a large salad bowl. Top with three-fourths of the dressing and lightly toss. Chill several hours or overnight. , If pasta is dry, add remaining dressing along with meat, cheese, olives, and parsley or basil if desired. Chill until serving.
Nutrition Facts :
ITALIAN GARDEN PASTA SALAD
I got the original recipe from Cooking Club of America. I changed the amounts due to my personal tastes as you may do. It doesn't HAVE to be refrigerated overnight, the only time I do that is just for my convienience. Amounts on salad ingredients may be adjusted or left out according to what you like. This is a great pasta salad and I'm always asked for the recipe when I take it to a potluck. Try it, you won't be sorry!8 (1 1/2-cup) servings.
Provided by Susan Dillard
Categories Potluck
Time 40m
Yield 8-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- Cook penne according to package directions.
- In medium bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil and oregano.
- In large bowl, combine penne, Colby cheese, hot pepper cheese, Provolone cheese, salami, plum tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, onion, broccoli, celery, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes.
- Pour dressing over penne mixture; toss well.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Before serving, toss pasta.
- Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
FRESH VEGETABLE SALAD
Best with 'fresh from your garden' vegetables. A crisp, refreshing and simple side dish for those blistering hot summers!
Provided by Gabby
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes
Time 28m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Cook the rotini in boiling water until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain. Rinse with cold water until cooled completely; drain. Transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk olive oil, vinegar, and honey together in a bowl; drizzle over pasta and toss to coat. Fold tomatoes, sweet onion, cucumber, carrots, celery, garlic, green onions, parsley, and cilantro individually into the pasta mixture to assure even distribution. Season with black pepper.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 114.1 calories, Carbohydrate 15.1 g, Fat 5 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 18.2 mg, Sugar 2.7 g
Tips:
- Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better the pasta salad will taste. If possible, use vegetables from your own garden or a local farmer's market.
- Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente means "to the tooth" in Italian and refers to the ideal doneness of pasta. Pasta should be cooked until it is tender but still has a slight bite to it.
- Use a variety of vegetables: The more vegetables you use, the more colorful and flavorful the pasta salad will be. Some good choices include tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, and broccoli.
- Add some protein: Protein can help to make the pasta salad more filling and satisfying. Some good choices include grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu.
- Use a flavorful dressing: The dressing is what really brings the pasta salad together. You can use a simple vinaigrette or a more complex dressing made with mayonnaise, yogurt, or sour cream.
- Chill the pasta salad before serving: Chilling the pasta salad helps to meld the flavors and makes it more refreshing.
Conclusion:
Pasta salad is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is perfect for potlucks, picnics, and summer gatherings. With so many different variations to choose from, there is sure to be a pasta salad that everyone will love. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give one of these pasta salad recipes a try!
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