Double Tomato Pasta Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in boiling water until tender.
• Drain well, then run under cold water to cool.
• Drain well.
• Cut the bacon, peppers and sun dried tomatoes into thin strips.
• Heat the first tablespoon of oil in a pan and cook this mixture until the peppers are soft.
• Cool.
• Combine the pasta, pepper mixture, cheese, nuts, herbs and fresh tomatoes in a bowl.
• Add the dressing and mix well.

Steps:

• Holding back the sun-dried tomatoes with your fingers, drain the oil from the jar into a large pot. Coarsely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the pot, along with the nuts and olive oil. Set over medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the nuts are toasted, 5 to 6 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl (reserve the pot), then stir in the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Fill the reserved pot with water (no need to wash) and bring to a boil. Season water with salt, add the pasta and cook until just past al dente. (The pasta will not cook further in the sauce.) Drain the pasta.
• While the water is coming to a boil, coarsely chop the ripe tomatoes. Add to the sun-dried tomato mixture, season with 1 teaspoon salt and stir to combine. (Tomato mixture can be made up to 2 hours ahead.)
• Add the drained pasta to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Let sit until room temperature, about 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. Pasta salad will keep up to 3 days if refrigerated.
• When ready to eat, taste the pasta salad. If flavors are muted, add salt and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. If it's too sweet, add black pepper and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. Stir in the greens and eat.

Steps:

• Arrange tomatoes on platter. Combine reserved sun-dried tomato oil and 1 tablespoon olive oil in small bowl. Mix in vinegar. Drizzle over tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with sun-dried tomatoes and all remaining ingredients.