Summer is finally here, and you know what that means. It means more family and friend gatherings and patio dining at home. My name is Ella, and I am the dog of our blended family of 6. My family spends most of their free time with me at home, making me very happy. Four teenage boys live in my house, and two love cooking with Mom and Dad.
This blog will teach you how to make a refreshing and easy summer pasta salad. This tangy and crunchy salad is sure to please everyone.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. We were gifted a sousShelf organizer from AlessiaAldora. We only work with brands we genuinely use and trust.
Perfect pasta salad for a large group
This recipe was my grandmother’s and is the perfect pasta salad for a hot day. First and foremost, it can be made in the morning when it’s cool in the house. Secondly, it makes a large portion, so it’s perfect for those gatherings, larger families and leftovers. Also, you won’t spend all your time cooking once your family and friends have arrived for dinner because your salad will already be done. You will have that extra time to spend with them instead. Finally, it’s full of fresh vegetables, and I get to try some when Mom makes this pasta salad; green peppers are my favourites.
Choose vegetables you love
This recipe calls for onions, green peppers, celery, tomatoes and carrots. The best part is that you can modify it with any of the fresh veggies you love. My Mom loves to add some orange peppers and fresh herbs such as cilantro. Orange and yellow peppers are sweeter than green peppers. There is no wrong way to make this refreshing pasta salad.
Cooking as a family
My family loves cooking together. They were gifted this awesome kitchen organizer called the sousShelf that you can see in most of their pictures on this blog. A design from a mother and daughter from Vancouver, Mirabela and Alessia. This station has a tablet or iPhone holder and a stylus to follow the recipe easily without getting your electronics full of sauce. My Mom uses the beautiful porcelain holders to quickly access the utensils she needs for each recipe. The sousShelf is also perfect for cooking with children. The kitchen stays cleaner afterward and makes this time more enjoyable for everyone. Check AlessiaAdora Website for more ideas on this great station design.
Here is what you will need for this recipe:
Salad
- Tomatoes
- Onions
- Green pepper
- Orange Pepper (Optional)
- Celery
- Carrots
- Cilantro (optional)
- Tricolor Fusilli Pasta
Sauce
- Golden Italian Dressing
- French Dressing
- Miracle Whip
- White sugar
- Salt and Pepper
Easy Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 750 g cooked Catelli tricolor Fusilli Pasta
- 1 cup cut in half cherry Tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 1 medium chopped Green Pepper
- 1 cup chopped Celery
- 1 medium Grated carrot
- 1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro (optional)
Sauces
- 3/4 cup Golden Italian dressing
- 3/4 cup French dressing
- 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
- 1/4 cup White Sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Fusilli Pasta as directed on the box.
- In a large serving bowl, pour the cooked pasta and add all the chopped vegetables.
- Add all the sauce ingredients over the vegetables.
- Mix everything well and put the bowl in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Final Thoughts
This refreshing and easy summer pasta salad is one of our family favourites. My family can’t wait to try it with vegetables they’ve been growing the past few months from their garden project. It is also a great salad to bring to any gathering or celebration. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as they do and that it brings joy during your family and friends’ patio dinner.
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