Pasta salad is a versatile and refreshing dish, combining pasta with fresh vegetables, herbs, and flavorful dressings. It suits various dietary preferences and can be made vegetarian. The dish can be enhanced with proteins like chicken or seafood. Perfect for gatherings and warm weather, it can be prepared in advance for convenience.
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 ounces) uncooked farfalle or fusilli pasta
- 1 package (16 ounces) grape tomatoes, halved
- 2 heads of broccoli florets
- 1 package (16 ounces) sharp cheddar or Colby cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
- Optional: crushed red pepper flakes, 1/4 pound sliced salami
- Dressing:
- 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook a 16-oz. box of pasta according to the box directions.
- As the pasta cooks, chop broccoli and green onion, slice tomatoes, and cut cheese into cubes.
- Mix dressing by adding mayonnaise to a medium-sized bowl, and adding Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.
- Once pasta has finished cooking, rinse with cold water to stop it from cooking. Place the cooled pasta in an extra-large bowl. Add broccoli, tomatoes, cheese, dressing and green onions to the bowl and mix.
