It’s getting warmer out and I love this pasta salad recipe in the summer! All the flavors blend perfectly together. The original recipe called for “Accent”. I had no idea what it was until I read the ingredient label on the bottle at the store, only ONE ingredient: MSG!!! Obviously, I dropped the bottle in the aisle and ran. It was still just as delicious without it.
MARY JANE’S PASTA SALAD
(She’s my stepsister, but far from wicked! My Mom remarried after my Dad died a few years ago – we all love Carl and his family.)
Use as many local, organic ingredients as possible for best nutrition:
- 3/4 c. raw apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 c. olive oil – substitute part or all of the olive oil with the unflavored coconut oil if it’s warm out (or it will harden). (Also, if you use the darker/extra virgin olive oil, it can have a strong taste, so sometimes I’ll use half expeller pressed or cold pressed sesame oil.)
- 1/4 to 1/2 c. sugar (cut back from original recipe which called for 3/4 c.) – I have used Agave Nectar or organic evaporated cane juice sugar
- 1 T. fresh or dried parsley
- 1/4-1/2 t. black pepper (more if desired)
- 1 t. sea salt
- 1-2 t. garlic powder
Mix together and chill while you boil the pasta and do the chopping:
- 1 # corkscrew pasta, cooked (I use organic: half white, half whole wheat – also see some good ideas in the first comment below for more healthy alternatives to regular pasta)
- 1 chopped green pepper (local & organic if possible)
- 1/2 chopped sweet onion (” “)
- 1-2 tomatoes (” “)
- Optional: carrots, celery, mushrooms, red pepper, cucumber, broccoli
- 1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
Toss all together and serve cold.
DO YOU KNOW OF SOME GOOD VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE? COMMENT BELOW!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Michigan Mom2three 04.25.08 at 4:14 am
This looks very similar to my pasta salad recipe, although I have used brown rice pasta in the past, and this year I want to try the Ezekial sprouted penne that I’ve seen in the stores. The only ingredient that I add that I don’t see mentioned here are chopped greek olives from Horrock’s olive bar! We prefer a mix of several kinds, or simply kalamata olives. This really adds a wonderful flavor to the pasta salad.
I have also diced up cheese or summer sausage (I get it from the Meerman’s) to make it a more hearty salad with a little protein.
Shauna
[Reply]
Kelly the Kitchen Kop 04.25.08 at 4:28 am
Shauna,
Great ideas for healthier alternatives to pasta!
I didn’t include olives, probably because I don’t like them!
[Reply]
Michigan Mom2three 04.25.08 at 8:54 am
I’m not a big fan of your run of the mill canned black olive either, but the greek olives at the olive bar are wonderful! They have a much richer flavor. Canned black olives just taste “salty” to me now. No real flavor, just “salty”, whereas the greek olives each have a distinctive flavor, and taste rich to me. When I buy kalamata olives, I have to HIDE them from my children!
I have tried the sprouted spaghetti with very good results (it has a bit of a different texture, but still VERY good imo), and it has a much nuttier flavor. It’s lighter than regular ww pasta, but has that nutty flavor. Wheras the brown rice pasta has the smoother texture (similar to semolina) but not as much of a nutty flavor. I’m anxous to try the penne. It’s on my list the next time I go to Harvest.
Shauna
[Reply]
HelloKitty 04.28.08 at 3:28 am
I actually found pasta made of corn. It’s healthy and tasta great. I can’t find it in the store so i buy online. It’s great if you have high cholesterol or diabetic. This is where i found it. Enjoy!
http://www.olivenation.com/cat-37/Italian-Gluten-Free-Corn-Pasta
[Reply]
Kelly the Kitchen Kop 04.28.08 at 5:05 am
Thanks for the tip and link on the corn pasta – do you happen to know if it is made with non-GMO corn? I looked at the link and couldn’t find it – maybe it’s on the package?
Kelly
[Reply]
HelloKitty 04.29.08 at 9:05 am
Yes it is made with non- GMO corn. I found this info on their site just to be sure. Hope this helps!
The corn, from which the Molino di Ferro cornmeal derives,
undergoes strict controls and checks at the origin by authorised
bodies that certify its quality. In particular, the certificates
issued regard the total absence of GMO (genetically modified
organisms) and mould.
[Reply]
Kelly the Kitchen Kop 04.29.08 at 9:58 am
Great, thanks for checking!
[Reply]