Patrick's Artichoke Pasta Salad |
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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes |
Ready In: 25 Minutes Servings: 12 |
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This recipe is truly a scratch one but, after your culinary efforts, your guests will be mightily pleased to have tasted a pasta salad that is bright, new, and delicious. I wanted a pasta salad that used an Italian-based dressing and which packed a LOT of flavor, slightly creamy. Through much research, a few false starts and, blind luck, I got the pasta salad that I wanted. It's fairly easy to put together but it does take some time. It's great for a covered dish or as a side dish to either fried chicken or pork chops. I plan to use it for summer barbecues as well. And, once again, I have to thank Dee514 for her spectacular Italian Spice Blend recipe (Italian Blend Spice Mix) which I have listed in the directions and which is an integral ingredient. For SAINT PATRICK'S DAY, use all GREEN PASTA (spinach pasta). I hope you enjoy this pasta salad as much as I do. Ingredients:
12 ounces rotini pasta, tri-color, dry |
2 tablespoons pimientos, diced, canned |
14 ounces artichoke hearts, chopped, canned, drained but not rinsed |
1 tablespoon italian spices, see directions |
1 tablespoon italian salad dressing mix, dry, e.g, good seasons brand |
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil |
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar |
6 tablespoons water |
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar |
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, freshly grated |
1/2 cup black olives, sliced |
4 tablespoons mayonnaise |
Directions:
1. Cook the pasta al dente, drain and place into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add the pimientos, artichoke hearts, and black olives.
3. In a small mixing bowl, blend the Italian spices, Italian dressing mix, olive oil, vinegar, water and sugar. Then, add the mayonnaise last, especially if using a blender (do not blend mayonnaise for more than 30 seconds). Pour this dressing over the pasta mix.
4. Top with the grated parmesan, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours prior to serving.
5. NOTE: A batch of Italian Spices can be made by blending the following (Dee514's recipe): 2 tablespoons dried basil, 2 tablespoons dried marjoram, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 tablespoon dried thyme, 1 tablespoon dried rosemary, 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes.
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