One of our easiest meals, perfect to throw together for a work-at-home lunch, is this pasta salad. Made in large quantities it's a crowd pleaser, perfect for parties, or as it embraces whatever you have in, it's great as a last minute make for unexpected guests, or to make what you do have go further. Either way it's delicious, and for family meals you can serve everything separately, so everyone just adds in what they want to eat. A real winner!
Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Method
1. Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. When cooked al dente, drain and run cold, running water through the pasta until cold.
2. Whilst the pasta cooks, prepare your other ingredients to approximately the same size (see below), and make your dressing, if doing so.
3. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl or serving dish; or serve all ingredients separately at the table or on the counter, and let everyone make their own versions.
4. Leftover pasta salad can be stored covered in the fridge for a day or two.
Ideas for Add-ins:
Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- Pasta, we prefer fusilli - a good handful per person makes this a meal in itself, so reduce accordingly if you plan to use it as part of a buffet.
- Other things - yep, that vague, see below for suggestions
- Salad dressing of choice, we usually make a quick vinaigrette, but any is fine, made or bought
Method
1. Cook your pasta according to the packet instructions. When cooked al dente, drain and run cold, running water through the pasta until cold.
2. Whilst the pasta cooks, prepare your other ingredients to approximately the same size (see below), and make your dressing, if doing so.
3. Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl or serving dish; or serve all ingredients separately at the table or on the counter, and let everyone make their own versions.
4. Leftover pasta salad can be stored covered in the fridge for a day or two.
Ideas for Add-ins:
- Any leftover vegetables, e.g. roasted veg, chopped
- Cucumber, diced
- Tomatoes, chopped
- Peppers, diced fresh or roasted, from a jar works too
- Sugar snap peas or mange touts, quartered
- Olives, halved
- Pickled cucumbers/gherkins, roughly chopped
- Capers
- Artichokes in oil, chopped
- Sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- Frozen peas, just pop them in boiling water for a minute or so
- Sweetcorn
- Any tinned beans
- Cheddar or other hard cheese, diced
- Chopped fresh herbs
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