Share your simplest pasta salad dressings and recipes

[Excelsior! Academy]

I have found a pasta salad recipe I love.  Spiral tri-color pasta, cheese cubes, kalamata olives, sometimes onion and/or cucumber, cherry tomatoes.  I have used Italian dressing, but would love to do a simple homemade or something different. 

 

Do you have a simple dressing or pasta salad recipe you would be willing to share?

[umsami]

My fav dressing is 1 clove of garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. I kind of eyeball the amounts and shake in a jar.

 

I think it started as a take-off from this recipe, so it might be a good starting point for measurements http://allrecipes.com/recipe/greek-salad-iii/detail.aspx

[Excelsior! Academy]

I keep all of those on hand.  Thank you both!

 

 

Any other recipes or dressings?

[AnIslandGirl]

My dd10 frequently asks for pasta salad in the summer.

We use: cheese tortellini, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, flaked salmon or shredded chicken (leftover protein from the night before), red bell peppers and kalamata olives.

For dressing we use either homemade with tomato seed oil, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and oregano or a prepared Greek dressing.

[Seasider]

A super quick, basic one is orzo, tomato, cucumber and red onion with oil & vinegar or Italian dressing.

 

I also like to add fresh fennel and asparagus.

[Cinder]

I like Ken's Steakhouse Creamy Caesar on pasta. Good with whatever veggies you like--onion, cuke, even lettuce--and grated parmesan cheese.

[shukriyya]

I use a very aged syrupy balsamic, olive oil, herbs, bit of dijon mustard, salt and a couple of splashes of thick cream. Shake it up and pour it on :drool5:

[Amy in NH]

Here's my recipe:

 

Italian style pasta salad

 

7 oz corkscrew macaroni

1 ½ C cubed mozzarella (6 oz)

6 oz cubed salami

1 C cauliflower florets, sliced

1 small zucchini sliced

½ C chopped red pepper

1 small onion, diced

½ C sliced olives

¼ C grated parmesan

 

2 tomatoes

 

Dressing:

¼ C snipped parsley

½ C olive oil

¼ C wine vinegar

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tsp crushed basil

1 tsp crushed oregano

½ tsp pepper

 

Shake dressing well, pour over salad and toss.

Cut 2 medium tomatoes into wedges and add before serving.