10-Min Pasta Salad Recipe

Fast, finger lickin' good, let this pasta salad, overflowing with veggies, brighten up your table and takes only 10 minutes to assemble, promises Mayur Sanap.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked pasta, like fusilli, penne, farfalle
• ½ cup sliced red and yellow bell pepper, sliced
• ½ cup sliced zucchini, sliced
• ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes, halved

Ingredients, continued

• ½ cup broccoli florets, blanched
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup halved black olives
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and/or basil leaves
• 3 tbsp Parmesan or feta cheese, or any other cheese of your choice

Ingredients, continued

For the dressing:

• 3 tbsp good quality extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp brown sugar or honey
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp red chilly flakes
• ½ tsp ground black pepper powder
• ½ tsp salt

Method

• To make salad dressing, whisk all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
  Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and give it a good mix.
  Now add all veggies into the pasta bowl.
  Toss well.

Method, continued

• Add more salt if required and mix in the cheese.
• Garnish with parsley and/or basil.
  Serve cold or at room temperature; serves 4.

Tips
Cook pasta as per packet instructions.
Use freshest ingredients for the best results.
Extra virgin olive oil is preferred for an enhanced flavour and it's more healthy; avoid light olive oil.
You can use a variety of veggies as per your choice and preference.

Tips, continued
Add half cup boiled boneless pieces of chicken thigh or breast or cooked shrimp/prawns for a non-vegetarian spin to your pasta salad. The process remains the same
You can also use store brought salad dressing, but a freshly-made dressing adds zing to pasta salad!