Passion Pasta Salad...



This Pasta Salad is positively scrumptious!... If you're into pasta, this salad is definitely for you. So enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 pound penne pasta
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons drained capers
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
1 small chili pepper, seeded if less heat is desired
2 cloves garlic
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 ounces feta cheese
12 Kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped
1/2 small red onion, cut into rings
Salt and pepper to taste


 Directions - Feta & Olive Pasta Salad:

Mince the parsley leaves, drained capers, oregano leaves, chili pepper, and garlic. Add minced ingredients to large bowl.

Add olive oil. Toss in feta cheese, olives, salt and pepper to taste.

Cook penne pasta in a large pot of boiling water until tender but firm. Place red onion into a colander. Drain hot pasta onto the onion in the colander.

Add pasta to the feta cheese mixture, and toss until well coated. Serve salad at room temperature.

Recipe yields 4 - 6 servings of pasta salad.

 

Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken and Avocados

Here's another variation on the pasta salad theme, that is really great for your tea party theme.

Ingredients:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, grilled, and cut into thin strips
1 pound fusilli, cooked until tender but firm, rinsed with cool water, and drained
1 large ripe Hass avocado, peeled and finely diced
3 medium, ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup drained capers
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, cilantro, or parsley
1/4 cup olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste


 Directions - Chicken-Avocado Salad:

Prepare all ingredients as directed above prior to assembling the salad. Next, combine all prepared ingredients in a large serving bowl. Toss salad gently.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve salad at room temperature. It is best to serve this salad soon after assembly, because the avocados have a tendency to darken over time.

An alternative would be to prepare the salad with everything minus the avocado. Just before serving the salad , dice the avocado and add to the salad.

Recipe yields 4 - 6 servings of pasta salad.

 

Summer Shrimp Pasta Salad

Yet another pasta salad variant just right for your next tea party... Hey, what can I say... we absolutely love pasta salads.

Ingredients:

4 red bell peppers
1 pound penne pasta, cooked until firm, rinsed with cool water and drained
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound shrimp, boiled, shelled and de-veined
1/2 cup pitted oil cured black olives
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 up pine nuts, toasted
Pinch of ground red pepper
Salt and ground black pepper to taste


 Directions - Shrimp Pasta Salad:

Roast red bell peppers. Peel, seed, and cut the pepper into thin strips.

Next, toss together in a large bowl cooked penne pasta, olive oil, minced garlic. Add the roasted and cut red bell peppers, along with prepared shrimp, olives, parsley, pine nuts, red pepper spice. Gently toss salad.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss to mix well and completely coat the pasta. Turn salad into large serving bowl. Serve salad at room temperature.

Recipe yields 4 - 6 servings of pasta salad.