11 Picnic Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes
11 Picnic Perfect Pasta Salad Recipes
Take your pasta to a whole new level this summer! All you need for a delicious, pasta picnic salad is a bit of creativity and your natural instinct for color, flavor and freshness. The variations are endless and the cooking required is minimal. So go to work!
Let’s Talk Ingredients
The best condiments for pasta salads are extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs like basil, parsley and even arugula. To introduce colors and flavors, add fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers. Try them raw, quickly grilled or sautéed in a pan. A classic Italian summer pasta salad contains fresh chopped tomatoes, buffalo or regular fresh mozzarella, basil and extra virgin olive oil added to cooled pasta. Toss up whichever ingredients you like, but follow the season. Each gives us new produce to enjoy! Unlike hot pasta dishes, the ratio of ingredients to pasta is less.
Cook Pasta Just Right
Be sure to cook your pasta very al dente. Remove pasta from cooking water before the suggested cooking time. Drain it and spread it on any clean and fairly large surface that you have, and drizzle some olive oil on top—a large plate or clean kitchen table will do just fine. It will cool down very quickly, especially if you toss it once in awhile, and you will avoid a mushy preparation. For a quicker method, run cold water over the pasta immediately after you have drained it. But only for a few seconds. Any longer will ruin the pasta and leave it mushy! Click here for more tips on how to cook pasta.
Whole Wheat, All the Way!
Whole wheat pasta is perfect for creating wonderfully healthy and refreshing salads. Any cut of pasta will do—short pastas, though, are usually preferred because they are more practical for mixing, serving and eating. What we love about our whole wheat pasta is the subtle, toasty flavor it adds to cold salads. And with DeLallo whole wheat, there is no fear of a gritty bite or an overwhelming earthy flavor. For more information about our whole wheat pasta, click here.
Here are 11 of our favorite pasta salad creations. Try one of these, or better yet create your own and share it with us on Instagram @delallofoods!
Shop Our Favorite Pasta Salad Shapes
Shop: Organic Gemelli Pasta
Shop: Orzo Pasta
Shop: Cavatappi Pasta
Shop: Potato Gnocchi
We love to marinate and grill veggies all summer long. And we love them paired with pasta the most! Add some leftover grilled chicken or charcoal-grilled beef for added protein. Happy summer, friends!
This recipe is so fresh and so green.
An antipasto salad with gnocchi? You heard us right. This irresistible summer pasta salad features the always winning combination of salami, Prosciutto, grilled artichokes, roasted red peppers and an herby golden balsamic dressing. Apart from the pasta, there is no cooking involved and you can use what you have in the pantry. This is great as an appetizer or as a light main course on a hot summer day.
#5 Mediterranean Penne with Tuna, Olives and Roasted Tomatoes
Tuna marries beautifully with olives, tomatoes and parsley, for example. You can also mix your pasta and tuna with sliced, raw or grilled yellow and red peppers, green onions and parsley. If you enjoy a little extra crunch and nutty flavor, you can add roasted pine nuts.The best tuna salad:
#9 Castelvetrano Greek Pasta Salad
Inspired by the lemony, bright, bitter and briny flavors of your favorite Greek dishes, this incredible cold pasta salad is like nothing you’ve ever tried. We choose Casarecce pasta to shake things up.
Note: There are a few popular variations of this pasta salad, such as the addition of anchovies and capers. Or try this variation: add grilled peppers or eggplant (in the eggplant variation, use fewer olives to avoid bitterness). Also, try adding a generous amount of arugula and cubed mozzarella or Parmesan shavings.
#11 Pesto, Olive and Artichoke Pasta Salad
So good, this pasta salad might never make it to the picnic. We load it up with smoky roasted red pepper, pimiento-stuffed green olives and fresh mozzarella tossed with our twisted Tortiglioni pasta. Don’t forget that basil pesto dressing!