Certainly! Pasta salad is a versatile and delicious dish that can be customized with a variety of ingredients. Here’s a basic recipe for a classic pasta salad:
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces of your favorite pasta (penne, fusilli, or rotini work well)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, black olives, feta cheese (if using), and fresh parsley.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, tossing everything together until well coated.
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1-2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Before serving, give the salad a good stir and adjust the seasoning if necessary. You can also garnish with additional fresh parsley or feta cheese.
Feel free to get creative and add other ingredients like grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes to make the pasta salad your own!
