Anyone have a good light pasta salad recipe they love? Preferably something with lots of veggies! We're having a bunch of people over tomorrow and I am having the hardest time finding a recipe that I used a lot last summer. Any suggestions? 
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I usually just cook up a box of tri-colored pasta then throw in whatever fresh veggies I have around (DH's favorites include tomatoes, red onion, canned artichoke hearts, zucchini and yellow summer squash) plus some cheese cubes and black olives. Toss all of it with Italian dressing and chill (I usually use a fat free dressing not because it is fat free but because it doesn't separate).
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I make a really yummy pasta salad but the only veggies in it are tomato and red onion. But the dressing is made from vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar with chopped garlic, oregano, and salt and pepper mixed in. You could just use that dressing and really add whatever veggies you want with the pasta.
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@purrpletulips: Exactly what you said! Although I loooove the Zesty Italian dressing by Kraft!
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My favorite:
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup green pepper
1 cup celery (sometimes i'll do 1/2 cup celery, 1/2 cup cucumber)
1 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup onion (I use red/purple for color)
3/4 box of medium shelled pasta
dressing: on stove mix 1 cup sugar with 1 cup vinegar and stir until sugar is dissolved.This is semi sweet and just delicious! My family raves when I make this one!
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I make this one but I usually make extra dressing and throw in corn, zucchini, or whatever else I have on hand.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/06/blt-macaroni-salad.html#more
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@FutureMrsMcK: love her stuff!
@MamaMoose: what's the ration of oil to vinegar that you use?
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1/2 cup oil mixed with 1/3 cider vinegar
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@jessiejo17: That sounds really good!
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I love tri colored pasta and a homemade garlic dressing with lots of green pepper!
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Mine only has peas but it's super easy -- ditalini, a block of extra sharp cheddar cheese cut into small cubes, and a bag of frozen peas. I only use enough mayo to coat everything lightly then I add salt and pepper and celery seed to taste.
But I also make a barley salad that is chock full of veggies! You can customize it easily but I use,
quick-cooking barley
carrots (cut into small cubes)
red onions
garlic
tomatoes
cucumbers
feta cheese
sliced kalamata olives
red wine vinegar
olive oil
lemon juice
salt and pepperI basically eyeball everything so I don't have quantities.
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Mine isn't too different from the above...
Tri color pasta, can of sliced black olives, can of shredded chicken, tomatos cut into chunks. Toss all with Italian dressing and chill.
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I have been making this pasta salad for the past 10+ years and everyone loves it. I get some spicy hot links and cut them into moons (half lengthwise and then cut into pieces). Cook and drain oil. Cut about 4-5 zuchinnis into moons and sauté in some olive oil and add salt and pepper. Dice 1/2 bell pepper and 1/2 small red onion into small tiny pieces. Cook pasta shape (rotini) and toss with wishbone Italian dressing (start with about a third of the bottle of dressing). Toss in the rest of the ingredients and add lots of pepper and some salt. Mix and taste and add more salt and pepper or dressing as you like. Tastes great the day of and even better a little reheated the next day
Also for an easy pasta salad I just shred a rotisserie chicken and mix pesto with pasta. I also throw a bag of frozen peas in with the pasta for the last minute. Add salt and pepper if needed. So good!
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My favorite is a roasted veggie orzo. I cut up peppers, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, asparagus and mushrooms and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast in the oven until they start to brown and caramelize a bit. You can slice up garlic and add that too if you want. Set this aside to cool. In the meantime, cook a box of orzo, drain and rinse with cool water. I toss in the roasted veggies, crumble some feta cheese in, and typically add some fresh basil and some kalamata olives. For dressing I simply drizzle with some olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and more salt and pepper to taste. It gets rave reviews and is very veggie heavy.
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This one is great! I put a TON of spinach in it, and use fresh tomatoes, but otherwise follow the recipe...delish! I like to use bowties sometimes instead too
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Thanks so much ladies!!! These all sound amazing!
Hope you're all having a happy 4th
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Mmmmm. Great ideas, ladies. I love tri pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, cheddar cheese cubes, and sometimes mozarella cheese cubes, artichoke and olives. Saturate in Italian dressing.
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17 comments