Best Pasta Salad With Roasted Red Peppers And Basil With White Balsamic Dressing Recipes

ROASTED-PEPPER PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Shake off the excess water. Meanwhile, place the bell peppers cut-side down on a foil-lined broiler pan, add the garlic and broil until charred, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer the peppers to a bowl, cover and set aside about 5 minutes. Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and toast, shaking the pan, 4 to 5 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Squeeze the garlic from its skin onto a cutting board. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt; mince and mash the garlic into a paste with a large knife. Peel the roasted peppers and slice into strips; transfer to a large bowl. Add the garlic paste and drizzle with the olive oil. Finely grate about 1 teaspoon lemon zest into the bowl and squeeze in all of the lemon juice. Add the bocconcini, basil, almonds, pasta, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; toss.
• Photographs by Antonis Achilleos

ROASTED PEPPER SALAD WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Broil peppers 4 in. from the heat until skins blister, about 5 minutes. With tongs, rotate peppers a quarter turn. Broil and rotate until all sides are blistered and blackened. Immediately place peppers in a large bowl; cover and let stand for 20 minutes., Peel off and discard charred skin. Remove stems and seeds. Cut peppers into thin strips; place in a large bowl. Add onion., In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, herbs, garlic, garlic powder, cayenne, pepper and salt; pour over pepper mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours., Before serving, allow peppers to come to room temperature. Place on a serving plate; top with tomatoes, cheese and basil leaves.

PENNE PASTA SALAD WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS AND FRESH BASIL

Steps:

• Slice peppers into ¼" wide strips, lengthwise. Place strips in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon rind, salt and pepper.
• Toss dressing with the red pepper strips.
• Stack the basil leaves on top of one another and roll up. Slice the leaves crosswise into thin ribbons. This is called a "chiffonade" in case you want to impress your friends.
• Toss the basil leaves with the peppers. Set aside to marinate for 1 hour.
• Cook the pasta al dente in large pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoons each salt and olive oil. Drain, rinse briefly and cool to room temperature.
• Combine pasta with marinated peppers and dressing.
• Add crumbled feta cheese. Taste and adjust salt, add liberal grindings of black pepper.
• Cool salad in fridge 1-2 hours before serving or salad may be chilled overnight and brought to room temperature 1 - 2 hours before serving.
• Garnish with basil chiffonade.

PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.
• Whisk together the salad spice mix and Italian dressing.
• In a salad bowl, combine the pasta, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and olives. Pour dressing over salad; toss and refrigerate overnight.