Refreshing Rotini Cold Pasta Salad
Homemade Rotini Cold Pasta Salad with a Zesty Dressing: A Simple Guide!
Craving pasta but worried about the calories? Try this light and healthy cold pasta salad made with wholesome ingredients. It’s a perfect, guilt-free meal that’s both satisfying and delicious!
Main Ingredients- Rotini pasta, 1 handful (approx. 100g)
- Avocado, 1/2
- Broccoli, 1/2 head (small)
- Cucumber, 1/2
- Cherry tomatoes, 6
- Crab sticks, 1
- King oyster mushroom, 1
- Salt, 1 pinch (for boiling pasta)
- Pepper, a pinch (for stir-frying mushrooms)
✨ Zesty Dressing Ingredients ✨- Mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp
- Mustard, 1 Tbsp
- Lemon juice, 1 Tbsp
- Sugar, 1 Tbsp
- Honey, 1 Tbsp
- Ground perilla seeds, 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar, 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce, 2 Tbsp
- Olive oil, 2 Tbsp
- Mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp
- Mustard, 1 Tbsp
- Lemon juice, 1 Tbsp
- Sugar, 1 Tbsp
- Honey, 1 Tbsp
- Ground perilla seeds, 1 Tbsp
- Vinegar, 1 Tbsp
- Soy sauce, 2 Tbsp
- Olive oil, 2 Tbsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare the avocado by cutting it into bite-sized pieces. Then, shred the crab sticks. Shredding the crab sticks adds a lovely flavor to the salad.
Step 2
An avocado is perfectly ripe when it yields slightly to gentle pressure. To prepare it, cut it in half, scoop out the pit with a spoon, and then scoop out the flesh. You can easily remove the skin and pit this way. Cut the flesh into your desired size.
Step 3
Slice the cucumber into thick matchsticks or dice it. Its crisp texture will add wonderful dimension to your salad.
Step 4
Remove the stems from the cherry tomatoes and cut them in half. The freshness of the tomatoes will enhance the salad’s overall flavor profile.
Step 5
Break the broccoli into small florets. Bring a pot of water to a boil with 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the broccoli and blanch for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp. Immediately plunge them into ice-cold water to maintain their vibrant green color. This method keeps the broccoli crisp yet tender. Place all the prepared vegetables in a bowl.
Step 6
Heat a little olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the sliced king oyster mushrooms. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, and stir-fry until golden brown and slightly tender. The mushrooms will add a savory depth to the salad.
Step 7
In a large pot, bring plenty of water to a rolling boil with 1 tablespoon of salt. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions (about 10 minutes), or until al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to cool it down completely. This step is crucial for a perfect cold pasta salad!
Step 8
Now, let’s make the dressing. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp mustard, 1 Tbsp lemon juice, 1 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp honey, 1 Tbsp ground perilla seeds, 1 Tbsp vinegar, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Whisk everything together with a whisk or fork until smooth and well combined. Ensuring all the ingredients are harmoniously blended is key.
Step 9
Place the cooled rotini pasta in a large serving bowl. Artfully arrange the prepared avocado, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, crab sticks, and stir-fried mushrooms over the pasta. The colorful arrangement will surely whet your appetite.
Step 10
Drizzle the delicious dressing evenly over the salad. Then, gently toss everything together until all the ingredients and the dressing are well combined. Your delicious Rotini Cold Pasta Salad is now ready!
Step 11
With this recipe, you can easily recreate a fancy restaurant-style cold pasta salad right at home. Enjoy this light, healthy, and flavorful dish that’s sure to impress!
