Anytime Pasta Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Combine vinegar, garlic, oregano and a big pinch each salt and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in oil; taste and add more salt, pepper or vinegar as needed. Set aside.
• Prepare the pasta: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until the pasta is al dente. Drain well, transfer to the large bowl, and toss with the dressing while still warm.
• Add tomatoes, mozzarella, salami, olives, cucumber and onion to the bowl and toss well; fold in herbs. Taste and season with more salt, pepper and vinegar, if you like.
• Drizzle with olive oil and top with cracked black pepper just before serving.

Steps:

• Cook the pasta following pack instructions, adding the beans for the final 2 mins. Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts in a dry pan.
• Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of water. Return the pasta and beans to the pan, and add the pesto, crème fraîche, prawns, lemon zest and juice, and pine nuts. Season well. If the sauce is a little thick, add a splash of the pasta water. When you're ready to serve, scatter over the rocket. Eat hot, or leave to go cold, put in the fridge and eat as a pasta salad.

Steps:

• Cook beets: Place the beets in a small roasting dish, add water to a depth of about 1 inch and a generous pinch of salt. Cover tightly and bake at 375 degrees for about 1 hour, until beets can be pierced with a fork. (Alternatively, simmer beets on the stovetop for an hour in well-salted water.)
• Let cool slightly, then slip off skins while the beets are still warm. Cut beets into wedges and place in a small bowl. Beets may be cooked up to 2 days in advance.
• While the beets roast, make the vinaigrette: Place shallot and garlic in a small bowl or jar. Cover with vinegar and add a pinch of salt. Whisk in olive oil and add pepper.
• Prepare goat cheese: With a fork, stir herbs and lemon zest into goat cheese. Spread goat cheese mixture on baguette slices and set on a baking sheet. When ready to serve, bake until crisp and slightly browned, 10 minutes in a 375-degree oven or toaster oven. Toasts do not have to be piping hot when served.
• Whisk dressing and pour over beets, reserving 3 tablespoons. Add a pinch of salt and toss beets well. Leave to sit for a few minutes, then taste and adjust vinegar and salt - beets are notorious for needing more vinegar and salt.
• Thinly slice the fennel crosswise. Toss with a little salt and the reserved dressing. Arrange fennel on individual plates or a serving dish. Place dressed beets on fennel, then fluff fennel a bit. Garnish with goat cheese toasts and serve.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to instructions, rinse and let cool.
• Blanche (submerge in boiling water) broccoli and pea pods for 2 minutes, drain and rinse with cool water.
• Add all vegetable to noodles.
• Mix well with dressing and chill overnight.
• You can add or take out vegetable that you want in your pasta salad.