| A Cold Pasta Salad can be served as a light lunch | | | | - a few drops of Tabasco sauce (to taste) |
| on a hot summer afternoon or as an additional | | | | - 1 Tsp of grated Parmesan (optional) |
| side dish for any party or dinner because it can | | | | If you are using cottage cheese (paneer), it is a |
| be prepared ahead of time. | | | | good idea to shallow fry the cubes till light brown |
| With such lovely flavors, I think you just need an | | | | on all sides, in a pan with just 2 tsp oil. Then drain |
| excuse to serve it. | | | | on kitchen paper. This way they become crispy |
| This pasta salad recipe is low fat (you can avoid | | | | on the outside and still soft on the inside. Feta or |
| using the cheese altogether), easy to make, | | | | cheddar cheese cubes can be added as they are |
| tasty, and suitable for vegetarians. Although you | | | | in the end. |
| can add some meat if you prefer. | | | | Heat a pan (non-stick is best) and reduce the |
| This pasta salad recipe makes a good healthy | | | | heat to lowest, then add the olive oil and garlic. |
| meal. | | | | Saute for 30 seconds and add the onions. Saute |
| It will be a definite hit with your family and friends. | | | | till the onions look glassy. Now add the tomato |
| Here is the list of ingredients | | | | puree and tomato, simmer for 5 minutes. |
| - 250gms pasta (any shape) | | | | Add the corn, bell pepper, basil, paprika, Tabasco, |
| - 200 ml Tomato puree (ready made) | | | | sun dried tomatoes and salt. |
| - 2-3 medium onions (thinly sliced) | | | | Cook till the whole mixture is no longer watery |
| - 1 can sweet corn kernels | | | | and vegetables are slightly cooked. |
| - 1 medium green bell pepper (capsicum,thinly | | | | Cool down to room temperature. |
| sliced) | | | | To this add boiled and strained pasta and gently |
| - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil | | | | mix so that the pasta is evenly coated with the |
| - 2-3 cloves of garlic (finely chopped) | | | | sauce. Add the cheese cubes and olives. Mix well. |
| - 1 large tomato (skinned, deseeded and chopped). | | | | Now let it cool and refrigerate till ready to serve. |
| - 2 tsp dried basil | | | | Sprinkle some grated Parmesan before serving. |
| - 15-20 olives cut in half (I use green olives | | | | Enjoy your cold pasta salad!!! |
| stuffed with pimento) | | | | Tip:- |
| - 5-10 cubes (1cm) of either cottage (paneer), | | | | To save some time you can easily make the red |
| feta or cheddar cheese (each will give an entirely | | | | sauce in advance and freeze for up to a month. I |
| different flavor) | | | | always make more and freeze some. Then all I |
| - 2-3 sun dried tomatoes (chopped) | | | | have to do is boil the pasta, add the cheese and |
| - 1 Tsp smoked Spanish paprika | | | | olives and voila. |
| - Salt to taste | | | | |