# How do you like your pasta salad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998 "2014-01-16T21:14:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/1 "2014-01-16T21:14:06Z")
Mandatory: feta spinach penne, fusilli, orzo, rigatoni olive oil Optional: red peppers artichokes red wine vinegar grilled chicken salami chunks carrots sundried tomatoes ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2014, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/2 "2014-01-16T21:28:00Z")
Rotelli, and lots of stuff. Pepperoncini, chunck of salami and/or pepperoni, provolone, artichoke hearts, pimento, eggplant, sundried and/or cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, olives, sometimes celery, pickled onions, capers, mushrooms, sweet pepper rings. Other things that are on hand or I see when I shop for the ingredients. Nobody ever complained about too many different things in the salad. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/3 "2014-01-17T03:21:21Z")
Oops; fail. I don’t normally use some of the ingredients you list as mandatory. I’m a mayo and chopped celery kind of guy. I’m sure I’d like the feta and spinach (I love both!) but it isn’t how I do it. ---
**Author:** ![mortal\_wombat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@mortal\_wombat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mortal_wombat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/4 "2014-01-17T03:28:15Z")
Tuna Sweetcorn Mayo Job done. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/5 "2014-01-17T03:33:35Z")
Onion Celery Bell pepper Garlic Shrimp Mayo Dill Salt Shell pasta ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/6 "2014-01-17T04:09:18Z")
Rotini with chopped olives and small cubes of pepperjack cheese, drizzled (not drowned) in Italian dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/7 "2014-01-17T13:01:58Z")
I like almost any version, but the classic version Chez Athena is: elbow macaroni Italian dressing bell peppers (red/orange/yellow) red onions tuna cubes of cheddar cheese peas mayo salt & pepper fresh parsley if I have it Ratio of pasta:veggies about 1:1. Toss the macaroni with the italian dressing while the macaroni is still hot. Use only enough mayo to get it to stick together. ---
**Author:** ![Happyasaclam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7c8e57/32.png) [@Happyasaclam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happyasaclam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/8 "2014-01-17T13:45:48Z")
Just made some last night. Bow tie pasta Cucumbers Tomatoes Black olives Feta Fresh basil Marinated red bell pepper Zoe’s Greek salad dressing Or Pasta Tuna Mayo Black olives S/p Crunchy fried onions mixed on top. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/9 "2014-01-17T15:02:11Z")
Small shell pasta Chopped onion Chopped celery Shredded carrot Bacon bits Ranch dressing Salad shrimp I feel like such a freak! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/10 "2014-01-17T15:12:36Z")
> [@Happyasaclam](#): > > Bow tie pasta I don’t know why but I love farfalle, but only in pasta salad context. I don’t think I’ve ever had it any other way. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/11 "2014-01-17T15:25:28Z")
I don’t care much about pasta shapes but more often than not I’ll just go for plain elbow macaroni because I always have it handy. Olive oil is my usual base but I always add some mayo for body and cling. Sometimes I use the oil I drain off from my can of tuna. Add onion, celery, green olive and carrot all finely diced. Some kind of cheese, usually parm or feta but it’s most all good. Chopped sweet pickled peppadews are always welcome as is that pseudo-krab made from chopped fish and artificial flavors. When I’m making it strictly for my own consumption then I’ll throw in a couple of whole boiled and peeled eggs and just cut them up as I eat the salad. I don’t like throwing cut eggs into a salad because the yolks tend to get kind of nasty to me. I don’t have this problem if they stay whole until it’s served. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/12 "2014-01-17T15:40:13Z")
Total fail, because I don’t use 3 of your “required” ingredients. My basic pasta salad is: tri-color rotini diced salami sliced olives halved grape tomatoes parmesan cheese diced cheddar cheese julienned red peppers Gerard’s Greek salad dressing ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/13 "2014-01-17T15:51:54Z")
I saw a pasta salad recipe called “P’s and Q’s”. Using alphabet macaroni (VERY hard to find), frozen peas, finely diced cheese, and Italian dressing. I used a small macaroni (either tiny shells or ditalini), boiled and threw in frozen peas just before draining. Shredded or finely chopped some gruyere. I guess you could use other cheese. It was simple, and delicious. ---
**Author:** ![turner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@turner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/turner)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/14 "2014-01-17T16:04:47Z")
Hot and covered in marinara ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/15 "2014-01-18T21:57:46Z")
My other favorite: elbow macaroni butter salt Comfort food from my yoot. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/16 "2014-01-18T23:18:12Z")
Cavatappi diced celery diced cucumber diced red bell pepper diced carrots sliced black olives sliced green onions chopped fresh parsley Newman’s Italian dressing grated parmesan ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/17 "2014-01-18T23:32:26Z")
This may not fit into the category of pasta salad, but . . . Brown some freshly chopped garlic, add olive oil into the pan, then pour and toss with spaghetti. Not only is it really tasty, but the smell it creates is _godly_. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/18 "2014-01-18T23:40:42Z")
Penne or fusilli Gorgonzola Spinach Mayonnaise Grilled chicken Walnuts Grapes Optional: Green peppers Red peppers ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/19 "2014-01-18T23:46:31Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > This may not fit into the category of pasta salad, but . . . > Brown some freshly chopped garlic, add olive oil into the pan, then pour and toss with spaghetti. Not only is it really tasty, but the smell it creates is _godly_. Add some finely diced serrano chiles or some red pepper flakes and you have spaghetti alio y olio. ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-like-your-pasta-salad/678998/20 "2014-01-19T00:34:35Z")
tri-colored rotini pack of frozen mixed veggies (usually a combination of green peas, carrots, lima beans, corn) crab meat parmesan cheese italian dressing cilantro black pepper