Saturday, March 28, 2009

Dad's Pasta Salad Deluxe


My father makes this dish for family events, where there are hordes of hungry relatives standing in line waiting to be fed. My dad likes to cut up a summer sausage and put it in there too, but I've omitted that to make it veggie friendly. That's something Zack would never do because of the man's natural disdain for the non-carnivores.

• 2 packages tri-color corkscrew pasta (I've used the Barilla brand tri-color rotini often in the past and have been pleased)
• 1 bottle of Paul Newman's Family Style Italian Salad Dressing 
• 1 can chick peas, drained and rinsed
• 1 red onion, diced
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 jar spanish olives with pimentos, drained (preferred sliced)
• 1 brick extra sharp cheddar cheese, cubed
• 3-4 stalks celery, chopped
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bag baby carrots 
• 1 jar pickled baby corn, drained
• 1 jar pickled, sliced banana peppers, drained
• 1 package cherry or grape tomatoes 

In a large stock pot, bring several quarts of cold water to a vigorous boil. Add pasta. Let boil 10 minutes, stirring regularly, until pasta is done.

Drain and rinse pasta in cold water. Add 1/3 bottle of salad dressing. Toss thoroughly with pasta. Add vegetables, chick peas, cheese, olives, and 1/3 bottle of salad dressing. Mix together thoroughly. 

Chill and serve with remaining 1/3 bottle of salad dressing, salt, and pepper. 

1 comment:

  1. Zack would make it with whole-wheat pasta, just to keep it healthy.

    Then he'd add bacon.

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