You can use any kind of cooked pasta to make a pasta salad recipe – whole wheat pasta, pasta shells, spirals, macaroni or anything else you like. Pasta salad recipes tend to be very simple and you can combine various ingredients to make it.
Three Good Ideas for Pasta Salad
Combine cooked pasta with mayonnaise, tuna and sweetcorn kernels for a very easy tuna salad recipe. You might like to add salt and pepper to taste, as well as a tiny bit of ketchup or tomato puree to complement the fish flavor. Use low fat mayonnaise to make this recipe healthier. Alternatively, try sour cream, creme fraiche or yogurt.
Mix cooked pasta with creme fraiche or yogurt, chopped boiled egg, smoked salmon and capers for a gourmet style salad. Again, add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a little curry powder to this one. If you are looking for starter recipes ideas, this might be unusual enough if you serve it in a lettuce leaf or on a chicory leaf. It is certainly tasty enough.
A third recipe would be to add creme fraiche with chopped frankfurters and tomatoes. This is a quick and easy salad recipe. Try adding some well drained pineapple chunks or broiled, chopped onion too.
Tips for Pasta Salad Recipes
The key to a good salad is to let your creativity loose. Throw in any ingredients you think would go nicely and season the salad accordingly. Use leftover chopped chicken or fish, as well as any vegetables past their prime which need to be used up.
You can even add fruit and nuts if you are going for an eastern style. Add some sour cream or yogurt instead of the mayonnaise to keep the calories and fat down, and add a pinch of curry powder and maybe also some chili powder or a little hot sauce. Remember, a little goes a long way when using strong spices and sauces.
Combine your homemade healthy pasta salad recipe with some lettuce and another salad – maybe an orange avocado salad, or something equally delicious, for a complete meal.
Salad is versatile and it can be a good starter recipe, lunch or dinner. Do not be afraid to use your imagination when making these recipes. Also, bear in mind that a colourful recipe is usually more tempting and appetizing than a boring one, so use plenty of colourful vegetables and other striking ingredients.
