Totoro Family Recipes: Pasta Salad

This recipe means summer in the Totoro household. And it is the only salad recipe my young children would request.

The kids loved the combination of pasta, pepperoni, and mozzarella.

I was thrilled they ate a few vegetables, such as carrots and broccoli.

And the colorful dish is as much a feast for the eyes as for the tummy.

When all three kids lived at home, the recipe made enough to feed hungry teenagers and provide a few leftovers. Now that we are empty-nesters, I need to remember to cut the recipe in half. Otherwise, we would eat pasta salad for a week!


Ingredients for Salad:

• 1 pound rigatoni (or I often use penne)
• 3 cups steamed broccoli florets
• 12 ounces pepperoni (I use turkey pepperoni for a lighter version)
• 6 ounces shredded mozzarella
• 1 chopped medium bell pepper (I like the milder flavor of red or yellow peppers)
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/2 cup sliced carrots
• 1/3 cup sliced black olives
• 1/4 cup grated Romano (or Parmesan)

Ingredients for Dressing:

• 2/3 cup vegetable oil (although I often use olive oil)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente (about 9-10 minutes). Drain and rinse. 
2. Pour pasta into a large bowl.
3. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour about 1/3 over the pasta.
4. To the pasta, add the steamed broccoli, sliced mozzarella, shredded mozzarella, chopped pepper, onion, carrots, and olives. Pour half of the remaining dressing over top and toss to blend.
5. Add grated parmesan and toss again. Taste and add more dressing if needed (I rarely use all the dressing)

The salad is a meal in itself, or a side great item to bring to the next neighborhood potluck.

This post is part of BethFishRead's Weekend Cooking Link-Up. For more delicious recipes, please visit her weekly blog feature.