# Anyone have a good recipe for a cold pasta salad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316 "2012-04-29T13:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/1 "2012-04-29T13:37:58Z")
I’m looking to add another salad at the deli and I think a good pasta salad is just the ticket, but I don’t have a favorite. Anyone have a recipe they’d like to share? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/2 "2012-04-29T13:43:04Z")
Here’s my [current go-to pasta salad](http://antijenicdrift.blogspot.com/2011/04/party-pasta-salad.html) for parties and cookouts. Not sure if it meets the needs of your deli, but it’s tasty! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/3 "2012-04-29T15:02:25Z")
This is one of my favorites. Greek Pasta Salad 10 oz fresh angel hair pasta. Boil 1-2 minutes. Drain. Mix the following together and pour over warm pasta: 1/2 cup mayo 2 tablespoons olive oil 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon Cavender’s Greek seasoning (or similar) 1/2 teaspoon dill 3 green onions (scallions), chopped, white \*and \*green parts 2 ribs celery, diced, including leafy tops small jar diced pimentos, or diced roasted pimentos (red bell peppers) chopped parsley (optional) **MOST IMPORTANT** : 1 or more cloves fresh, raw garlic, minced or pressed, to your taste (I use 3-4 because I love garlic.) You can eat right away, but the longer it sits in the fridge, the better it is. Suggest you make it in the morning for dinner or for the next day. You will never be bothered by vampires while eating this salad. Okay. Will have to make this very soon… ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/4 "2012-04-29T15:13:11Z")
One of my favorites- this is al ‘to taste’ as I never measure anything! Bow tie pasta, boiled till JUST tender good olive oil slivered almonds bacon, crumbled shredded parmesan cheese fresh parsley Mix all together. Sooooooo good! And a little different, too! ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/5 "2012-04-29T15:16:02Z")
I always add cubes of smoked Gouda and salami to mine. Hearty and delicious. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/6 "2012-04-30T00:17:41Z")
Thanks you guys. These all sound delicious. I’m going to try at least one of them tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/7 "2012-04-30T00:51:10Z")
[Dominican pasta salad](http://www.dominicancooking.com/268-ensalada-de-coditos-pasta-salad.html). ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/8 "2012-04-30T01:01:41Z")
Orzo Grape tomatoes Pine nuts Baby spinach Cubes of fresh mozzarella (optional) Olive oil Vinegar or Lemon Juice Salt ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/9 "2012-04-30T01:21:43Z")
My favorite is cold shrimp with beansprouts and assorted other veggies, (matchstick carrots, celery, snow peas, cucumber is my personal favorite combo), fresh coriander, sesame oil, sweet chili sauce, sweet soya sauce dressing. The pasta is spaghetini. What’s really wonderful about it is, if you’d prefer your noodles hot, just microwave, by the plateful, for 1- 1/2 minutes. Also works with chicken/turkey/beef/pork. One of my best ‘left over’ dishes and always popular when I take it to functions! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/10 "2012-04-30T01:46:28Z")
I don’t really have a recipe–I just guess at the quantities. Asparagus and Sundried Tomatoes Penne Asparagus sauteed in olive oil and garlic, with some red pepper flakes and a few drops of Tabasco Chopped sundried tomatoes, in oil (reserve a bit of the oil for the salad) Fresh chopped basil Fresh chopped parsley (optional) Crumbled feta Pitted Kalamata olives Mix it all together with olive oil, including some of the oil from the tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Sometimes I add a bit of balsamic vinegar. Broccoli and Feta Rotini Barely cooked broccoli–the woman who gave me the recipe spears a whole head of broccoli on a knife and holds it upside down in boiling water while counting to 100, then runs it under cold water Crumbled feta Chopped Vidalia onion Grape tomatoes Fresh finely chopped dill olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/11 "2012-04-30T20:35:03Z")
Capers. All of these recipes are missing _capers._ ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/12 "2012-04-30T21:13:35Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Capers. All of these recipes are missing _capers._ The only caper I enjoy is of the Great Muppet variety. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/13 "2012-04-30T21:18:47Z")
I get a box of the tiny shells and cook them, then add grated carrots, baby peas, and the small salad shrimp that comes frozen, toss all that with ranch dressing, and add baccon bits. It’s basically a homemade version of the Betty Crocker “suddeny salad” ranch and bacon version with shrimp added. It’s stupid easy and my husband can eat half a pound of it in one sitting. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/14 "2012-04-30T21:47:09Z")
Rotini Green and/or red bell pepper Red onion Grape tomatoes – halved or quartered Mozarella, small cubes Diced pepperoni (those bags of mini ones work well, but are pricey) I put a dressing of 1/2 Italian and 1/2 creamy ceasar with some fresh-grated parmesan. This recipe is simple, relatively inexpensive as far as veg salads go and works as a good base – any extra veggies you might need to use up can be easily incorporated. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/15 "2012-05-01T00:03:11Z")
Box of Rotini/Corkscrew Pasta 1 jar small stuffed green olives, drained 1 can medium pitted black olives, drained 1 small sweet onion, small dice 1 red bell pepper, medium dice 1 yellow bell pepper, medium dice 3 s/b grilled chicken breasts, 1/2 inch cubes (or 1 pkg precooked from the deli case) 1 small Bottle Bernstein’s Italian Salad Dressing 1 TBL apple cider vinegar Cook pasta al dente Return pasta to pot and dress with 2 Tbls EV Olive Oil Add remaining ingredients to pasta and stir to combine Turn into a storage container [eg tupperware] Chill for at least 3 hours. Garnish with… 1 Bunch fresh parsley Cut off stems Pulse in Food processor until finely chopped Pass parley around table Optional Hot Cherry Pepper Slices Grated parm ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-have-a-good-recipe-for-a-cold-pasta-salad/620316/16 "2012-05-01T05:44:06Z")
Not really a recipe, but a suggestion: Rotini, or similar pasta Onion Sesame seeds, toasted if you like For dressing, mix a little soya sauce, oil, crushed garlic, and pepper flakes to taste.