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Zesty Pasta Salad

Ready in 20 mins

Recipe by Graham 

Zesty Pasta Salad is a low-fat, zesty salad that is perfect for a light summer lunch. If you are not vegetarian and want to vary the basic recipe, you can add chunks of ham, salami or leftover cooked chicken. Alternatively, you can flake in hot-smoked salmon or smoked mackerel or you can really "go for it" by topping with crisp bacon. If you are vegetarian, sundried tomatoes, olives or roasted peppers make a nice addition.

Preparation Time

10 Minutes

Cooking Time

10 Minutes

Ingredients for Zesty Pasta Salad

If you are not familiar with any ingredients, please check our International Cooking Terms page.

Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements

To serve 4:

9 oz pasta shapes
5 oz frozen peas
  handful fresh parsley
  handful fresh chives
1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
  salt and pepper

How to Cook Zesty Pasta Salad

  1. Cook the pasta in boiling water as instructed on the packet (usually just a few minutes). Add the peas for the final 2 minutes cooking time. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool, then drain again.
  2. Grate the zest from the lemon and squeeze the juice into a bowl along with the olive oil and plenty of seasoning. Add the cooled pasta and peas and mix well. Cover and chill, spooning out portions as and when you want. (If you're keeping this for a little while, by days 3 and 4 you'll need to stir in a little more olive oil to loosen the pasta).
GRAHAM'S HOT TIP:
Don't overcook your pasta - "al dente" is perfect for this recipe.
 
GRAHAM'S WINE RECOMMENDATION:
Pasta is relatively dense and chewy and needs a silky-textured wine that's both delicate and rich. Pinot gris (also known as pinot grigio) matches this criteria and offers sweet apple, pear, and hints of stone fruit, brightened with citrus and mineral flavours.

Highly recommended if you can get it is 2005 Domaine Stirn Cuvée Prestige Sigolsheim. This family-owned Alsace producer has been fashioning wines in the tiny town of Sigolsheim since 1450, among them this honeysuckle-scented cuvée.