Description
Culinary magic unfolds with this Cold Spaghetti Pasta Salad, blending Mediterranean flavors into a refreshing summer delight. Cool noodles mingle with crisp vegetables and zesty dressing, promising a perfect picnic companion you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) spaghetti, cooked and cooled
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Vegetables:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup broccoli, chopped
- 1/2 cup zucchini, diced
Instructions
- Prepare pasta by boiling in salted water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente, maintaining a slight firmness. Immediately drain and rinse under cold running water to halt cooking process and prevent sticking.
- While pasta cools, meticulously chop cucumber, bell peppers, onion, and zucchini into uniform bite-sized pieces. Halve cherry tomatoes and slice black olives into delicate rings.
- Create vibrant dressing by whisking Italian dressing, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and seasonings in a small mixing bowl. Taste and adjust flavor profile with additional herbs or spices as desired.
- Transfer completely cooled pasta to a spacious mixing bowl. Gently incorporate chopped vegetables and shredded Parmesan cheese, ensuring even distribution.
- Drizzle prepared dressing over pasta mixture, using folding motions to coat ingredients thoroughly without crushing delicate components.
- Refrigerate salad for minimum 60 minutes, allowing flavors to harmonize and develop complex taste dimensions. Serve chilled as refreshing side dish or light meal.
Notes
- Cook spaghetti just until al dente to maintain a slight bite and prevent mushiness when chilled.
- Feel free to swap or add different vegetables like cherry tomatoes, artichokes, or roasted red peppers for extra crunch and flavor.
- Boost the salad’s nutrition by adding grilled chicken, salami, or canned tuna for a more substantial meal.
- This salad tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop in the refrigerator, making it an ideal meal prep option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 3.5 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg