Beach lunches, outdoor picnics, dinners on the terrace: in summer there are plenty of occasions to bring to the table apasta salad. A fresh and tasty dish that meets everyone's favors and is really very convenient because it's possible prepare it in advance, to have it ready at the right time!
The preparation of the pasta salad is not complex but requires some small precautions, essential for having a dish cooked to perfection, well seasoned and tasty.
Dot cooking
The decisive factor for the success of the pasta salad is undoubtedly the cooking pasta: how many times did you happen to eat it hot? Unfortunately, it is a frequent mistake that depends on incorrect cooking. To keep the pasta well al dente just follow the normal cooking procedure in boiling salted water, calculating approx 1 liter of water is 10gr of salt (to be added only after boiling) for every pound of pasta. Remember to pay a oil thread extra virgin olive oil in boiling water and at the beginning of cooking mix the pasta well, to prevent sticking.
At this point, pay attention to the clock: cooking stops at the pasta salad 2/3 of the time usually indicated on the packaging. But if you have forgotten to start the stopwatch, do not despair, there is empirical evidence that will help you. Just break a piece of dough with a fork and check that there is a small, lighter aura inside, which is technically called “sweetbread". Here, this is the right time to drain the pasta and immediately stop cooking by quickly passing it under cold water. Then season it with a little oil and roll it out on a tray or a baking sheet to let it cool.
Color and variety
As for i condiments, with pasta salad you can really leave plenty of room for imagination. Privileged fresh and seasonal ingredients, comfortable to eat if cut into small pieces: cherry tomatoes, grilled vegetables, olives, mozzarella or cheese cubes. Mediterranean flavor for the pasta salad with mackerel with cherry tomatoes and basil or for the sea-scented version. The pasta salad in peppers is original, a vegetarian and nice idea to present on the table.
Don't forget to add a perfumed touch, always adding some herbs like basil and mint. To better flavor the pasta salad, season it and let it rest in the fridge for a couple of hours.
If you decide instead to dress your salad with a liquid sauce, remember not to add it too much in advance of serving it, otherwise you risk the pasta absorbing it completely. In this case, keep the plain pasta in the fridge and add the sauce just before eating it.
Claudia Minnella
July 2017
updated in August 2019
DISCOVER THE COOKING COURSES OF SALT & PEPE
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