Pasta salad is one of the many wonderful leftover-type foods that get more flavorful the longer they sit in your fridge, so you can take some for Monday's lunch then dollop it aside Friday's dinner. It tastes just like the tangy cool macaroni sides you scoop up at the salad bar, only this time only fresh wholesome ingredients are used. But it wouldn't be 'salad' if it had to be made one way! Throw whatever your crazy heart desires into the mix to make it your own. Just don't get too funky and blame the nastiness on me... K?
Basic Ingredients:
- Vegetables (pickled, canned, fresh, frozen, etc.)
- Cooked and cooled pasta
- Mayo substitute (Nayonaise, Veganaise, or homemade)
Combine the pasta (mine was whole wheat macaroni)- very important it is cooled- and mayo substitute. I used Nayonaise because I like the Miracle Whip flavor combined with mustard and pepper. Then, fold in veggies like thawed stir-fry mix and cayenne peppers fresh from my little herb garden. I live in an apartment- if I can grow food plants anyone can. The Vulcans would be most proud of you.
Last, before all of your ingredients are super combined, spice it up some. Mustard, apple cider vinegar, olives, black beans, and hot sauce ( smoked chipotle Tabasco baby) are all excellent in pasta salad.
Last, before all of your ingredients are super combined, spice it up some. Mustard, apple cider vinegar, olives, black beans, and hot sauce ( smoked chipotle Tabasco baby) are all excellent in pasta salad.
I highly recommend tossing this together the night before you plan to eat it so the pasta can absorb the mayo and marry the spices. What a tasteful wedding it is too! It may seem on the thin side but after chilling a few hours the salad will get nice and thick like casserole.
The whole wheat pasta will keep you full while the fresh veggies balance out the salty creamy mayo. Grab a fork and devour the chilled goodness for yourself.
The whole wheat pasta will keep you full while the fresh veggies balance out the salty creamy mayo. Grab a fork and devour the chilled goodness for yourself.