How To Make The Best Pasta Salad

There is no dish that goes better with picnics, potlucks and cookouts alike than a great pasta salad. This shareable plate can even be made ahead of time and stored for an easy lunch or effortless side dish. There are countless recipes for pasta salads that range from classic to complex. You can easily make a delicious version with what is already in your pantry because the dish is open to interpretation. Try combining Italian dressing, pasta, cheese and a mixed bag of frozen vegetables for a quick dish without having to make a trip to the grocery store. In this video, Chef Mark gives an online coking lesson on how to cook a crowd pleasing pasta salad. For more great cooking demonstration videos, subscribe to the LearnToCookOnline YouTube channel.

Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked macaroni of choice, e.g. fusilli, cavatapppi, penne rigate, elbow, farfalle , drained, rinsed, cooled slightly
1/4 cup small dice red onion
½ cup julienned red, yellow and golden peppers,
1 cup EV Olive oil
1/3 cup high quality red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, to taste
¼ tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp. chili oil
1 tbsp each chopped basil and Italian parsley

Method:
1. Cook pasta in 1 gal of water per pound of pasta. Add 2 tbsp salt to the water before boiling.
2. Drop pasta in and stir, cook until tender but firm to the bite.
3. Then be sure its drained, rinsed, cooled slightly.
4. Make an emulsified dressing as shown in the video with paprika, mustard, vinegar and olive oil.
5. With pasta now in a separate bowl add onions, peppers, and fresh-made dressing, season with salt and pepper as needed.
6. Garnish with chopped herbs.

If you have questions or comments about this video or recipe please leave them below.