How to Make Homemade Pasta Salad

Making pasta salad at home is a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy a fresh and delicious meal that can be customized to your liking. Mix any type of pasta with various veggies, meats, cheeses, and dressings to create a dish that reflects your unique taste. Try making your own pasta salad today and discover a new way of enjoying a tasty meal! Here's a simple recipe for you:

Ingredients:

For the Pasta Salad:

2 cups cooked pasta (rotini, fusilli, or your choice) 🍝

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 🧅

1/2 cup black olives, sliced (optional) 🫒

1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional) 🧀

For the Dressing:

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 🫒

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 🍷

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 🌭

1 clove garlic, minced 🧄

1 teaspoon dried oregano 🌿

Salt and black pepper, to taste 🧂

Instructions:

1. Cook the Pasta:

Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool the pasta quickly. 

2. Prepare the Vegetables:

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese. 

3. Make the Dressing: 

In a small bowl, mix some olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Make sure to adjust the flavors according to your liking. 

4. Toss and Chill:

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss everything together until well coated. 

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. 

5. Serve:

Just before serving, gently mix the pasta salad to make sure everything is nicely coated with the dressing. Taste a small bite and add more salt, pepper, or any other seasoning you prefer if needed. 

Serve chilled and enjoy! 🤤

Optional Tips: 

Make your salad more interesting by adding grilled chicken 🍗, shrimp 🍤, or your favorite type of meat. You can also try different types of pasta to add some color 🌈 to it. Don't forget to include some fresh herbs like basil 🌿 or parsley 🌱 to make it taste even fresher. 

This pasta salad is great for picnics 🧺, barbecues 🍖, or as a yummy and easy meal on its own. You can mix it up however you like to suit your taste buds! 😋

#cooking #floemberry #pastasalad