PASTA SALAD - PENNE & MIXED VEG COLD SALAD

Cold salads are very comforting for dinner especially in summer.I generally like to make them often as I can prepare it before and refrigerate it.All I need to do is, serve in a bowl for dinner and pair it with any aerated drink or any fruit shake.The recipe I am posting is very versatile and one can alter the vegetables according to their preferences.

Penne Pasta Salad:
(Serves 2)

Ingredients:
1 cup Penne Pasta( you can use Farfelle/Macaroni/Elbow pasta)
1 medium sized Red bell-pepper,seeded and cut into strips
1 medium sized Yellow bell-pepper,seeded and cut into strips
1 medium Green Capsicum,seeded and cut into strips
1 Onion,diced
1 Tomato,seeded and cut into strips
1 cup Broccoli florets
1/3 cup Walnuts,roughly chopped
2 tbsp chopped Coriander
5-6 Black pitted Olives,sliced
5-6 Green pitted Olives,sliced
3-4 pickled Gherkins,chopped
2 tsp chopped pickled Jalapenos

for dressing:
3-4 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Lemon juice
2 Garlic pods,grated
1/2 tsp Red chili flakes
1/2 tsp Pepper powder(adjust according to your spice level)
Salt to taste
Method:

• Clean,wash and steam broccoli florets.You can stir fry them in a tsp of olive oil with a dash of salt and red chili flakes or just steam them until done.
• Boil pasta in a big pot of water for 8-10 mins till al dente or follow the instructions given behind the pack.Drain and cool it.
• In a big bowl mix all the chopped mix bell peppers, capsicum, onion, tomatoes, olives, gherkins, jalapenos,coriander and steamed broccoli florets.
• In a small bowl whisk together olive oil with lemon juice,salt and pepper powder.Add red chili flakes and grated garlic and mix well.Add this dressing to the pasta salad and add the walnuts and toss it well.
• Keep it refrigerated for 1 hr to blend the flavors well.

You can serve the salad slightly warm or at room temperature.I personally prefer cold pasta salad especially in these summers.
Notes:

1. You can add vegetables of your choice.I mentioned my personal preference with this salad.You can even use vegetables like carrots,baby corn,baby spinach and sauteed mushrooms in the salad.
2. I kept the dressing simple and I love this dressing for most of my salads and it works wonderful.
3. You can replace pasta with cooked couscous,quinoa and follow the same procedure for various delicious salads.
   
4. If you don't like the bell peppers raw you can quickly saute for a minute in a tsp of olive oil.But maintain its crisp for better taste.
5. If you can refrigerate for long the flavors blend wonderful.