Pasta Salad Primavera Recipes

PRIMAVERA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water until no longer hot; set aside.
• To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, milk, sour cream, parsley, chives, mint, lemon zest and juice, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons Parmesan in a small bowl. Set aside. Before tossing, splash in more milk if needed for thinning.
• In a large bowl, combine the pasta, broccoli, tomatoes, peas, asparagus, carrots and leeks. Pour over the dressing and toss to coat. Top with the remaining tablespoon of Parmesan and some black pepper. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

PASTA PRIMAVERA SALAD

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water over high heat. Shell fava beans and peas (keeping them separated). Snap woody ends from asparagus, and cut spears diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Cut haricots verts in half horizontally.
• When water boils, blanch each vegetable separately, cooking to taste. (Haricots verts and sugar snap peas should be blanched very briefly, about 10 seconds.) Reuse cooking water, placing each vegetable in a sieve and dipping it into boiling water for the duration of the cooking. Rinse blanched vegetables under cold water and allow to drain well. Peel and discard fava bean pods and the beans' thick translucent cover.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and drain well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and stir in extra virgin olive oil until pasta is well coated. Add vegetables.
• Add garlic oil to bowl, and season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice, lemon zest and 1/4 cup chives. Mix well, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with remaining chives. Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.

PRIMAVERA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, adding pea pods for last minute of cooking. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• In very large (4-quart) bowl, mix bell peppers, carrots, basil and cheese. In small bowl, mix dressing and milk with wire whisk. Add dressing mixture, pasta and pea pods to bell pepper mixture; toss to coat.