Two easy recipes for cold summertime pasta salads.
Pasta salads are a summertime tradition. They are perfect as side dishes or snacks at gatherings or parties. Here are two unique and easy summertime pasta salads.
Easy Crab Pasta Salad
This is a very refreshing imitation crab salad and the green olives add a nice zing to the salad. This would also work well with rotini, bow tie, or macaroni noodles.
- 1# Medium Shell Pasta
- 10 oz. Imitation Crab Meat, Flaked
- 1 cup Celery, Chopped
- 1 cup Frozen Green Beans or Peas, Thawed
- 1 cup Sliced Green Olives, Drain Reserving Juice
- 1 cup Onion, Chopped
- 1 cup Mayo or Salad Dressing
- 1 cup Juice From the Olives
- Salt and Fresh Cracked Pepper to Taste
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, make sure not to over cook the noodles as they will become soggy and break apart when mixing in remaining ingredients.
- While pasta is cooking mix together the mayo and the olive juice. As soon as pasta in done and rinsed pour it into a large bowl. Add the dressing mixture immediately to help prevent the pasta from sticking. Stir well.
- Add remaining ingredients one at a time stirring after each addition. Season to taste.
- Refrigerate for at least four hours or overnight. Adjust seasoning as needed. Enjoy.
Makes 12 Servings
Macaroni Salad with Cheddar
This is a great easy summertime salad that is very versatile. Once you have learn how to make macaroni salad for your family, they will be begging you to make it again.
- 1 cup Macaroni
- 1 ½ cups Cheddar, Cubed
- ½ cup Celery, Chopped
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
- 1 cup Frozen Peas, Thawed
- 1 cup Red Onion, Chopped
- ½ cup Mayo or Salad Dressing
- ½ cup Sour Cream
- 4 Tablespoons Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Sweet Pickle Relish
Directions:
- Bring a medium size pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions, make sure not to over cook the noodles or they will get mushy and break apart when stirring in the rest of the ingredients.
- While pasta is cooking mix together the mayo, sour cream and pickle relish. As soon as pasta in done and rinsed twice, pour it into a large storage container. Add the dressing mixture right away to help prevent the pasta from sticking. Stir well.
- Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
- Refrigerate overnight and enjoy.
Makes 10 Servings
Copyright Tiffany Chavis. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.
Tiffany Chavis - A classically trained chef, Tiffany works extensively with seafood, wild game and traditional American cuisines.
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