Chefs Pasta Salad Food

BEST POTLUCK PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large stockpot with water and bring to a boil over HIGH heat. Salt the water with about a tablespoon of salt. Add pasta and cook until just al dente (according to package instructions).
• Drain pasta and toss with a light drizzle of olive oil. Set aside to cool slightly.
• While pasta is cooling, chop tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion. Set aside in a large mixing bowl and add capers to the bowl.
• Add dressing ingredients, except for olive oil, to a bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking, slowly pour in the olive oil, and continue whisking until completely combined. Taste and adjust salt and pepper accordingly.
• Add the cooked pasta and crumbled feta cheese to the large bowl with the vegetables. Pour dressing over the top and toss to combine.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours, up to 2 days.
• Serve cold or at room temperature, and enjoy!

COLD PASTA SALAD WITH ITALIAN DRESSING

Steps:

• Start off with boiling the pasta - follow instructions on the label of the pasta packaging. Fusilli normally takes 8-10 minutes to reach al dente. Drain and set aside.
• For the Italian dressing, add all ingredients listed for it above and mix thoroughly.
• Add in the halved cherry tomatoes, julienned bell peppers to the pasta as well as the Italian dressing. Toss well.
• Add in the finely chopped parsley and toss some more.
• Chill in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes and serve.

CHEF'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Empty Pasta mix into 3-quart saucepan 2/3 full of boiling water. Gently boil uncovered 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Shake to drain well.
• Stir together Seasoning mix and Crouton Blend, oil, water and mustard in large bowl. Stir in pasta.
• Stir cheese and ham into finished salad. Cover and refrigerate any remaining salad.

PASTA SALAD WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Cook the fusilli in a large pot of boiling salted water until fully cooked, 10 to 12 minutes (you don't want al dente pasta here). Drain and toss into a bowl with the olive oil. Cool to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, purée the pesto, lemon juice, and ½ cup of the peas. Add the mayonnaise and purée until smooth.
• Add the pesto-pea mixture to the cooled pasta, along with the Parmesan, ¾ cup of the peas, 3 tablespoons of the pine nuts, the mozzarella, the salt, and the pepper. Mix well, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. (I usually add ¼ teaspoon each more salt and pepper, but it will depend on the saltiness of the pesto you're using and how heavily the pasta water was salted.) Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle the remaining peas, pine nuts, and basil over top. Serve at room temperature.
• Note: To toast the pine nuts, place them in a small dry skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until golden. Watch the nuts carefully, as they can burn quickly, and transfer them to small bowl immediately after cooking (they will continue to brown in the hot pan).
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The components of this pasta salad can be made ahead a day ahead of time; just keep everything separate and toss together right before serving.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

PAMPERED CHEF CONFETTI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients except Parmesan cheese; toss gently.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

JAMIE OLIVER'S BEST PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil.
• Throw in the pasta and garlic and simmer for about 5 minutes or until al dente, and drain.
• Put the garlic to one side for the dressing.
• Put the pasta in a bowl.
• Chop the tomatoes, olives, chives, basil and cucumber into pieces about half the size of the pasta and add to the bowl.
• Squash the garlic cloves out of their skins and pound in a pestle and mortar.
• Add the vinegar, oil and seasoning.
• Drizzle this over the salad, adding a little more seasoning to taste.

THE NAKED CHEF'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil; add pasta and garlic. Simmer for about 5 minutes or al dente, and drain.
• Mix the EVOO to the white wine vinegar while whisking until blended. Pour over pasta.
• Add all other ingredients.

KARDEA'S CHEF'S SALAD

Steps:

• For the Buttermilk Ranch Dressing: Stir together the buttermilk, mayonnaise, sour cream, chives, dill, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Assemble the salad: Arrange the lettuce, Sourdough Croutons, tomatoes, Cheddar, carrots, cucumbers, onion, eggs and ham on a serving platter. Drizzle with desired amount of buttermilk ranch dressing.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Toss the bread cubes, olive oil, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder and pepper on large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the bread begins to brown, 10 minutes. Stir and bake until the croutons are browned and crispy, 5 minutes more. Set aside to cool completely.