Best Peach Pasta Salad With Fresh Herb Vinaigrette Recipes

QUICK AND EASY PASTA SALAD

Quick and Easy Pasta Salad image

This easy pasta salad is flexible based on the ingredients you have in your kitchen or the season. Start with a hearty pasta shape that has nooks and crannies to hold onto the dressing like rotini or penne. Then toss with our simple dressing and lots of colorful vegetables. We also love adding parmesan cheese, which melts into the dressing as well as a handful of fresh mozzarella balls. For more suggestions for what to add, read through our recommendations in the article above.

Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher

Categories Side Dish, Salad

Time 20m

Yield Makes about 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

1 pound dried pasta like fusilli, penne, rotini or farfalle (bow tie)
1 cup sliced bell pepper (1 medium)
1 cup thinly sliced zucchini (1/2 medium)
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions (5 to 6)
1/4 cup sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers, optional
1 cup (4 ounces) halved mixed olives
1 cup (2 ounces) grated parmesan cheese or hard cheese
1 cup (6 ounces) fresh mozzarella balls, chopped
1/3 cup fresh parsley or basil, optional
1/3 cup red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 to 3 tablespoons juice from pepperoncini jar, optional
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Steps:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, 6 to 10 minutes (check the package for recommended cook time). Drain and rinse well under cold water.
While the pasta cooks, in the bottom of a large bowl, make the dressing. Whisk the red wine vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, pepperoncini juice (if using), and the olive oil until blended. Add the drained and rinsed pasta to the dressing and mix well.
Stir in the bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, scallions, pepperoncini (if using), olives, parmesan, mozzarella, and the herbs (if using). Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper as needed. Serve or for the best results, cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/10 of the salad, Calories 363, Fat 19.1g, SaturatedFat 5.1g, Cholesterol 18.3mg, Sodium 507.1mg, Carbohydrate 36.6g, Fiber 2.3g, Sugar 2g, Protein 11.7g

PEACH PASTA SALAD WITH FRESH HERB VINAIGRETTE

PEACH PASTA SALAD WITH FRESH HERB VINAIGRETTE image

Categories Fruit Pasta Vegetarian

Yield Makes 4 Main Dish Servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

Dressing:
 1 garlic clove
 4-inch celery stalk
 1/8 cup Balsamic vinegar
 1/8 cup citrus champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar with 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
 ½ teaspoon dried thyme
 ¼ teaspoon sugar
 ½ cup fresh basil
 ½ cup fresh parsley
 ¼ cup olive oil
Salad:
 ½ pound short pasta, such as penne, cooked and cooled
 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into short strips
 3 stalks celery, chopped
 1 fennel bulb, white part only, cut into short strips
 3 fresh peaches (or nectarines), halved, pitted, and
cut into cubes
 ½ cup toasted walnuts or hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
 ½ cup Jarlsberg, Madrigal, or other mild cheese, cut into cubes

Steps:

1. Combine all of the dressing ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead.) 2. Chop all veggies and peaches into 1 to 2 inch strips. 3. Combine all the salad ingredients (except nuts) in a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad and season the salad with salt and black pepper. 4. Divide the salad among 4 bowls, then sprinkle with nuts and garnish with basil sprigs, if desired.