Spaghetti Salad With Balsamic And Basil Dressing Food

BALSAMIC BASIL PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil your pasta. While your pasta is cooking, make your dressing. Whisk together the vinegar, garlic powder, mustard, salt and pepper. While still whisking, drizzle in your olive oil. Once fully combined, set aside.
• When the pasta is done cooking, drain well then add a few tablespoons of the dressing to the pasta to prevent sticking and refrigerate until cold in a large bowl - this makes about 13 cups so be sure to have a big enough bowl! (Hot Tip: Don't rinse your pasta in cold water after cooking, removing the outer starch can keep the dressing from sticking well to it!)
• Add the remaining ingredients to the pasta (you may need to give the dressing another good whisking before adding if the oil has separated). You can serve this right away, but it's even better if it can have some time to marinate in the fridge! Once it's refrigerated, I like to let it sit on the counter for a few (the olive oil will thicken in the fridge and setting it out re-liquifies it) then give it a good stir before serving.

SPAGHETTI SALAD WITH BALSAMIC AND BASIL DRESSING

Steps:

• 1. Cook pasta to desired doneness as directed on the package.
• 2. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• 3. In a bowl, combine cooked and cooled pasta with the remaining salad ingredients.
• 4. In a small jar with lid, combine dressing ingredients. Shake well.
• 5. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Chill for 8 hours or overnight.

BASIL-BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk together the vinegar, basil, garlic and a generous pinch of salt in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick dressing. Whisk in a couple turns of freshly ground black pepper.

BALSAMIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk first 6 ingredients together to prepare the dressing mix, set aside.
• Cook the pasta of your choice.
• While pasta is cooking, chop broccoli and blanch for 2 minutes.
• Combine cooked pasta, blanched broccoli, chopped red pepper and sliced green onion.
• Pour dressing mix on top of pasta mixture; toss to coat.
• Chill until ready to serve.
• **Note: Preparation can be accomplished while pasta is cooking, making this a very quick dish**.

BASIL AND BALSAMIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil the pasta until al dente. Strain and rinse with cold water immediately to stop from continued cooking.
• Once pasta is fulled cooled (as in cold), pour pasta into a large mixing bowl. Add the entire bottle of dressing, the mozzarella chopped into about 1/2 inch cubes, basil, red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes and green onions. Mix together and taste. Add ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste. You'll probably only need very little if any salt. It depends on the brand of dressing you buy.
• Let sit in the fridge at least 2 hours. Fold in parmigiano cheese, cucumber and chopped avocado right before you serve.

SPINACH PASTA SALAD WITH LEMON BALSAMIC DRESSING

Steps:

• Directions.
• Wash spinach and set aside to drain well (tear apart large leaves and remove thick stems).
• Roast 1 bulb of garlic in a 400-degree oven.
• Peel away the outer layers of the garlic bulb skin, leaving the skins of the individual cloves intact.
• Using a knife, cut off 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of the top of cloves, exposing the individual cloves of garlic. Place the bulb cut side up on a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil, drizzle with about 2 Tbs. olive oil making sure to cover each clove and then bring the sides of the foil up and seal all around.
• Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until cloves are soft and caramel colored. Let cool until you can touch it with your hand and squeeze out each clove into a cup or dish...let cool while you make the salad.
• Make pasta according to box, cook to "al dente" about 12 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water to completely cool the pasta and stop the cooking process.
• Turn out into a large bowl, add cucumber, tomatoes, onions, shredded carrots and roasted red peppers, add the spinach and the fresh mozzarella and toss lightly.
• Mix all of the dressing ingredients together in a blender EXCEPT the two oils, combine the two oils together and then slowly drizzle in the oil mixture while the blender is running and blend completely. Pour dressing over pasta salad and toss well to coat.
• Chill overnight to serve the next day this will allow the flavors to blend and will slightly wilt the spinach.
• Serve along side grilled chicken, fish or as a light lunch with fresh crusty bread.