Primavera Pasta Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite and filling is warmed through, 5 to 7 minutes; drain.
• Stir cooked tortellini, tomatoes, broccoli, yellow bell pepper, Parmesan cheese, and pepperoni together in a bowl. Pour in 1 cup Italian dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. If salad looks dry, stir in an additional 1/4 cup Italian dressing before serving.

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, adding pea pods for last minute of cooking. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• In very large (4-quart) bowl, mix bell peppers, carrots, basil and cheese. In small bowl, mix dressing and milk with wire whisk. Add dressing mixture, pasta and pea pods to bell pepper mixture; toss to coat.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes.
• While pasta cooks, place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until tender-crisp, 2 to 6 minutes. Drain pasta and asparagus and chill until ready to use, at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, dip mix, and Italian dressing mix in a bowl.
• Assemble chilled rotini, asparagus, ham, romaine, cucumber, and avocado in a large bowl. Top with mayonnaise dressing mixture and toss. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water over high heat. Shell fava beans and peas (keeping them separated). Snap woody ends from asparagus, and cut spears diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Cut haricots verts in half horizontally.
• When water boils, blanch each vegetable separately, cooking to taste. (Haricots verts and sugar snap peas should be blanched very briefly, about 10 seconds.) Reuse cooking water, placing each vegetable in a sieve and dipping it into boiling water for the duration of the cooking. Rinse blanched vegetables under cold water and allow to drain well. Peel and discard fava bean pods and the beans' thick translucent cover.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, and cook orzo according to package instructions. Drain, rinse under cold water, and drain well. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, and stir in extra virgin olive oil until pasta is well coated. Add vegetables.
• Add garlic oil to bowl, and season mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice, lemon zest and 1/4 cup chives. Mix well, and adjust salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with remaining chives. Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Prepare a large ice water bath. Add carrots to the boiled water, and simmer 2 minutes.
• Add squash, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add broccoli and bell pepper, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Add sugar snap peas, and cook 2 minutes more.
• Scoop vegetables from simmering water with strainer. Transfer to ice water bath. Drain when cool, and pat dry.
• Bring pot of water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain, and rinse under cold water to cool.
• Meanwhile, whisk together olive oil and lemon juice in large serving bowl. Stir in shallots and garlic. Add pasta, blanche vegetables, tomatoes, and cheese, and toss to coat with dressing.
• Season with salt and pepper, and serve.