Picnicorzopastasalad Recipes

ORZO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Make dressing by adding all of the ingredients to either a small bowl and whisking or a jar and shaking. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• In a large nonstick skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium-low heat. Once melted, increase heat to medium-high and add orzo and red onions and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until red onion are soft.
• Stir in chicken broth, lemon juice salt and pepper. Simmer until orzo is al dente, 8-10 minutes, stirring frequently the last couple minutes of cooking so it doesn't burn. If you have leftover liquid, drain orzo. Transfer to a large bowl to cool in the refrigerator while you finish chopping your veggies.
• Add all of the salad ingredients to the orzo followed by the dressing. Toss to coat.
• Taste and season with additional lemon juice or salt and pepper to taste.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN ORZO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain well. Rinse with cold water and drain well again.
• Combine orzo, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, olives, and Asiago cheese in a large bowl.
• Whisk garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl to make the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the orzo mixture and toss lightly to combine. Add basil and parsley and mix well. Let sit for 20 minutes for flavors to blend, stirring occasionally.

CONTEST-WINNING PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook spiral pasta and tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add the artichokes, broccoli, provolone cheese, salami, peppers, beans, olives, onion and garlic. , Prepare salad dressing according to package directions; pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Mix tomato sauce, dressing, basil and oregano in large bowl. Add pasta and remaining ingredients; toss. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours until chilled but no longer than 48 hours.

PICNIC ORZO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo for 7 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
• Add peppers, onion and sundried tomatoes to the orzo pasta and mix well.
• Add oil and gradually add in the vinegar. Use your discretion if you want to add the entire 1/2 cup of vinegar.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Chill for at least 1 hour.
• Fold in feta cheese right before serving.

PICNIC PASTA

Steps:

• Whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, vinegar and honey in a large bowl. Stir in the cornichons, herbs, capers, celery and fennel until combined. Add the pasta and salt and toss until well coated.

CLASSIC PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk the mayonnaise, parsley, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together in a large bowl.
• Cook the broccoli in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander. Run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add the broccoli to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the peas to the pot. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Add to the bowl.
• Add the ham, provolone, olives, onion and salami to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to boil and add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package directions.
• Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette. Zest 1 lemon into a large mixing bowl. Add the juice of both lemons, honey and some salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. While continuing to whisk, slowly pour in the olive oil to emulsify the mixture into a light dressing.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and immediately pour into the large mixing bowl with the lemon-honey vinaigrette. Toss the pasta with the walnuts, apricots, lemon thyme, mint and radicchio. Gently toss to combine and pour into a serving dish. Serve at room temperature or store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss pasta, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and olives; set aside. In a jar with tight-fitting lid, combine all of the dressing ingredients; cover and shake well. Drizzle over salad; lightly toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

PICNIC SALAD

Steps:

• In salad bowl, combine pasta, onions, tomato, chilies, corn, cilantro, lime juice, salsa, and olives.
• Stir to blend.
• Add enough mayo to coat ingredients.
• Refrigerate a couple of hours before serving.

PICNIC PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool.
• Mix tomato sauce, Italian dressing, basil, and oregano together in a large bowl. Add pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and red onion; toss. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 2 hours.

PASTA SALAD FOR A PICNIC

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Place in a salad bowl; add tomatoes, cheese ( you can also use feta or swiss if you prefer, peppers, onion and olives.
• In blender, combine the dressing ingredients.oil etc -- cover and process until blended. Pour over pasta mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until cool.

ANTIPASTO PICNIC SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, drain giardiniera, reserving 3/4 cup liquid. In a large bowl, combine the giardiniera, broccoli, mozzarella, salami, ham, pepperoni, green pepper and olives. Drain pasta and rinse in cold water; stir into meat mixture., For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, pepper, salt and reserved giardiniera liquid. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

POTLUCK ORZO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook orzo in 6-8 qt pot of boiling water according to pkg directions (7-9 minutes) Drain and rinse with cold water; drain well.
• Toss in large bowl with 1 1/2 T olive oil.
• Add chopped vegetables, beans, and olives In separate small bowl, combine olive juice, sesame oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, dill weed, mustard and curry.
• Gradually whisk in remaining 1/2 cup olive oil.
• Add salt and ground pepper to taste.
• Add dressing to orzo mixture and blend well.
• At this point taste the salad, and add more of whatever you prefer (I added more dijon).
• Toast pine nuts on a cookie sheet in a 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes.
• Sprinkle on top of salad just before serving.
• Can be made 1 day ahead.
• Makes approximately 10 cups.

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Blanch broccoli and asparagus in boiling salted water, and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking.
• Cook pasta until al dente.
• Rinse with cold water and drain.
• Toss pasta with chopped vegetables.
• Mix first 5 ingredients of dressing, and slowly whisk in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss dressing with pasta and vegetables.
• Chill until ready to serve.