Easy and Delicious Penne Pasta Salad
How to Make a Cold Pasta Salad with Zesty Oriental Dressing
This recipe uses leftover penne pasta from making tomato penne pasta to create a light and refreshing ‘Cold Pasta Salad’, also known as a no-cook pasta salad. While you might consider other sauces, sometimes a lighter option is best, especially after a heavier meal! (Or, if you just happen to have only vegetables and dressing ingredients on hand). This salad is made with a simple, classic Oriental dressing that elevates the flavor far beyond basic. If you’re looking for a clean and invigorating dish instead of a heavy meal, I’ll guide you through making the Oriental dressing and penne pasta salad right now.
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 180g Penne pasta
- 5 Cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 Yellow bell pepper
- 1/2 Cucumber
- 5 Black olives
- 1 Tbsp Salt (for boiling pasta)
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil (after boiling pasta)
- Small amount of Reggiano block cheese (for garnish)
Delicious Oriental Dressing
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Olive oil
- 2 Tbsp Oligosaccharide (or honey/sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 Tbsp Parsley flakes
- 2 Tbsp Minced onion
- 2 Tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp Vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Olive oil
- 2 Tbsp Oligosaccharide (or honey/sugar)
- 1 Tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1/3 Tbsp Parsley flakes
- 2 Tbsp Minced onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, bring 1.5 liters of water to a boil in a pot for cooking the penne pasta.
Step 2
Wash the cherry tomatoes thoroughly, remove the stems, and slice them in half for preparation.
Step 3
Slice the black olives in half, similar to the cherry tomatoes, to prepare them for the salad.
Step 4
Dice the yellow bell pepper into approximately 1×1 cm squares for a vibrant touch of color.
Step 5
Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds from the cucumber, then slice it into approximately 1cm thick pieces for a crisp texture.
Step 6
Once the water is boiling vigorously, add 1 tablespoon of salt and stir until dissolved. Then, add the penne pasta and cook for about 10 minutes until al dente. (Refer to the cooking time on the pasta package, but it’s good to have a slight bite remaining.)
Step 7
Drain the cooked penne in a colander and transfer it to a bowl. Immediately toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Let it cool completely.
Step 8
Now, let’s make the delicious Oriental dressing. In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons of oligosaccharide, 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds, 1/3 tablespoon of parsley flakes, and 2 tablespoons of finely minced onion. Whisk everything together with a whisk or fork until well combined.
Step 9
Add the cooled penne pasta, diced yellow bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black olives, and cucumber to the Oriental dressing. Gently toss everything together to ensure the dressing evenly coats all the ingredients.
Step 10
Arrange the appetizing penne pasta salad in your desired serving bowl. Finally, grate some Reggiano block cheese over the top for an extra layer of flavor. Your delicious penne pasta salad is complete! Enjoy it chilled.
