A simple, light and delicious recipe

With the arrival of summer, the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is holidays and with those, immediately following, food. Not just any food, but summer food like light, fresh and delicious fruit and salads. What better way to celebrate this warm season than by enjoying a plate of healthy pasta salad, with grilled vegetables and aromatic herbs?

Summer pasta salad is perfect for picnics or barbecues because it’s so simple and easy to prepare. It is also very light and does not weigh down the stomach. With just a few ingredients (most of which you probably already have in your kitchen), you’ll be whipping up this pasta salad in no time!

The basics of the pasta salad recipe

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when making a pasta salad recipe. First, you’ll have to choose a variety of types of pasta. Pasta salads with different shapes and types of pasta can help make the salad more attractive and give it a more appetizing appearance.

So imagine mixing two types such as farfalle and penne or fusilli, if they are of different colors even better. Now the vegetable part. You can use everything: Zucchini, aubergines, broccoli, cabbage, cherry tomatoes, carrots, olives, artichokes, capers, peas, turnips, onions, celery, mushrooms, parsley and so on. Use your imagination and think of any vegetable you could combine by just blanching or grilling.

Pasta salad with fish or meat

So far we have talked about vegetables, and therefore we have made all our vegetarian friends happy. However, if we also want to make a version for those who love meat or fish, then all we have to do is add a nice grilled chicken fillet (cut into small pieces) or a little fresh grilled tuna, or why not, some shrimp and so on.

How to prepare the best summer pasta salad

Now that you have all the ingredients and information you need for your summer pasta salad recipe, let’s get started.

First, cook the pasta and let it cool. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the grilled vegetables and possibly the meat or fish.

Then, drain the pasta, mix it with the vegetables and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Complete the summer pasta salad by adding the extra virgin olive oil dressing.

Latest tips and tricks for making the best summer pasta salad

Cooling the Pasta: Cooling the pasta keeps the flavors from mixing with each other, making the pasta easier to eat on a very hot day.

Adding salt: Salting the pasta will help bring out the flavor of the vegetables, so don’t worry about adding salt to the vegetables if you’ve already put enough salt in the pasta.

Finish with a dash of balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinaigrette is a great addition to summer pasta salads because it adds a sweet, tangy flavor that goes well with greens.

Add herbs: Herbs like mint, basil, or parsley can enhance the flavor of the pasta salad and add a nice scent to the dish.

Cut the vegetables: Cut the vegetables into smaller pieces to enhance the flavor by exposing them to the air.

Rinse the greens: Rinsing the greens in a colander before adding them to the salad can help remove excess water so the greens don’t thin out the pasta.

Stirring the Salad: Stirring the pasta salad helps mix the ingredients and cool it to keep it from getting too hot.

Use a large bowl: A large salad bowl is best for mixing ingredients so they don’t become a messy pile.

Do not overcook pasta and vegetables: Do your best to have both pasta and vegetables “al dente”. If you leave one and/or the other to cook too much they will become a “pappa” and will not be visually attractive.

NOTE: For all those who love cheese; you can add mozzarella or other fresh cheeses or even parmesan or parmesan flakes to give an even more appetizing touch to your summer pasta salad.

Conclusion

Summer is a great time of year to enjoy fresh salads, as there are many delicious varieties of fresh ingredients available. And above all they don’t have to be heavy or high in calories. With this summer pasta salad recipe, you’ll discover how easy it is to prepare a delicious and light pasta dish.

With just a few ingredients, you can prepare a simple and healthy summer pasta salad. Whether it’s a barbecue or a quick and easy lunch, this recipe is perfect for you.

Try this recipe and let us know what you think!