Herb Grilled Vegetable Pasta Salad Food

GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLE PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, drain the tomatoes (reserving the juice for another use if desired). Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until aromatic, 1 to 2 minutes. Crush the tomatoes with your hand, adding them to the saucepan as you go. Season with salt and pepper. Add the basil and parsley sprigs (reserve the chopped herbs for later) and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to low and cook at a very low simmer for about 15 minutes or until ready to serve.
• While the sauce cooks, heat a large double-burner grill pan over medium-high heat. Toss the pepper, squash, zucchini and onion with the remaining tablespoon olive oil, making sure to coat all sides. Sprinkle with salt and grill, turning once, until well-marked and crisp-tender, 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on the vegetable. Transfer the onion to a large mixing bowl. Transfer the pepper, squash and zucchini to a cutting board and cut crosswise into strips. Add to the bowl with the onion and cover with foil.
• Cook the penne in the boiling water according to package directions. Drain and add to the bowl with the vegetables. Remove the herb sprigs from the sauce and stir in half of the chopped herbs. Add to the bowl and toss to coat.
• Serve the pasta in bowls topped with the remaining chopped herbs and Parmesan.

HERB GRILLED VEGETABLE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In large nonmetal dish or 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix dressing, Italian seasoning, bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant and onion; turn to coat. Cover, or seal bag; let stand 1 hour to blend flavors.
• Meanwhile, cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain well; set aside.
• Heat gas or charcoal grill. Place vegetables in grill basket (grill "wok"), or place directly on grill rack; reserve dressing.
• Place grill basket on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 10 to 15 minutes, turning vegetables and brushing with dressing once, until tender.
• In large serving bowl, combine pasta with reserved dressing, salt and pepper. Dice vegetables; fold into pasta in bowl. Sprinkle cheese over top.

GRILLED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH GREENS, TOMATOES, HERBS, OLIVES AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare barbeque (medium-high heat). Whisk 3/4 cup oil and vinegar in medium bowl to blend. Place onion, beets, zucchini, eggplants, and red bell pepper on baking sheet. Brush both sides with some of vinaigrette. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper. Grill vegetables until just cooked through, about 10 minutes per side for beets, 6 minutes per side for onion and 4 minutes per side for zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. (Vegetables can be grilled 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Brush bread with additional olive oil; sprinkle with pepper. Grill bread until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Arrange greens on large platter. Overlap tomatoes atop greens in center of platter. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper. Arrange grilled vegetables atop greens around edge of platter. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over tomatoes and grilled vegetables. Sprinkle tomatoes and vegetables with herbs. Sprinkle tomatoes with goat cheese. Sprinkle Romano cheese over all. Garnish with olives. Serve with bread.

HERBED PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water; leave in colander and set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat oil and garlic over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant and sizzling, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes.
• Pour garlic oil through a sieve into a large bowl; discard garlic. Add pasta and herbs to oil. Season generously with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, chilled or at room temperature.