This recipe is a combination of a number of pasta salads I grew up consuming. It has an Italian taste profile with a lot of basil, tomatoes, Italian sausage and figs, however I add extra texture and shade with loads of greens, some grilled, some uncooked. They’re all chopped as much as make a recent salad that’s an incredible dish even with out the pasta. However add the pasta (grain-free if you happen to please), and also you’ve received a hearty lunch that’s summer time in a bowl.
Salad Bowl | White Bowl | Kitchen Hand Towel
To me, the important thing right here is utilizing shell pasta. I’m a giant fan of Banza pasta noodles, that are grain-free and excessive in protein, however you need to use any shell pasta you want. I at all times salt my pasta water earlier than cooking and — secret tip — I additionally add a splash of both white wine vinegar or crimson wine vinegar, which infuses much more taste within the pasta.
You most likely haven’t seen many pasta salads that function recent figs. They are often delicate and tougher to seek out, however I wish to go off the standard script and embody them on this salad. After all you don’t have to make use of figs, but when you could find them in season, they add a honeyed taste that’s completely welcome right here.
Over on the grill, I add sliced zucchini and mushrooms for that smoky taste, after which throw on the Italian sausage till it’s cooked by means of with some good grill marks. To spherical out the principle components, I chop up some uncooked yellow bell peppers and candy Vidalia onion for sweetness and Castelvetrano olives (my favourite) for saltiness.
Salad Bowl | Wooden Serving Spoon
For the dressing, the secret is to infuse the French dressing with the flavors which can be already within the dish. So I add the remaining grilled vegetable and sausage juices, lemon juice and zest, olive brine, honey, and dijon mustard to some fruity olive oil for a balanced and scrumptious French dressing.
All of it will get tossed collectively in a serving bowl, and it’s able to serve. This pasta salad simply appears like a Mediterranean getaway. It’s full of taste and shade, and it’s a feast for the eyes. Plus, it’s simple to move for a picnic or BBQ. Let me understand how you want this one; I hope it makes it into your repertoire as a summer time staple.
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