Summer is here which is great news for pasta salad lovers. Why? Who doesn’t love a vibrant and flavorful pasta salad dish when the sun’s out? But don’t stick to the same dishes you always make when you can explore a beautiful range of pasta recipes that will please the whole family.
From tortellini pasta salad recipes to meals with chicken and last but not least, gnocchi recipes that will dazzle taste buds all summer long, come and join us! We’ll guide you through our Top Summer Salads with Pasta and Gnocchi, giving you all the tips, tricks, and recipe ideas you need for a memorable mealtime.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
People often think of bow tie pasta as the main ingredient for a pasta salad recipe, but truth be told, there’s a world of options you can use to make your meal unique. When it comes to filled pasta, nothing quite hits the spot in summer salads as much as some delicious tortellini.
10. Bring the traditional flavours of Northern Italy to your home by preparing a Tasty Tuscan Tortellini Salad, rich in creamy cheese and topped with a mouthwatering Olivieri® Basil & Cheese Pesto sauce.
9. Our next dish takes us further east from Tuscany over the Eastern region of the Mediterranean. It does, however, still include tortellini, making it a Greek-Italian fusion dish. This Greek Salad Tortellini looks just as good as it tastes.
8. For those who like their meals to be vibrant, the colours of this Rainbow Tortellini Salad will brighten up your plate. When the three cheeses, tucked inside the tortellini, blend with the irresistible taste of Olivieri® Basil & Cheese Pesto sauce, the result is a sublime level of deliciousness.
7. Another dish that’s just as colourful but with its own distinct flavour combo is this Confetti Pasta Salad. With herbaceous basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, olives, peppers, and more, this recipe effortlessly fuses the nutritious with the delicious.
Chicken Pasta Salad
6. Chicken pasta salad recipes are popular during summertime, so let’s look at some that stand out from the crowd. Chicken Pesto Tortellini with Cherry Tomatoes is a dish that beams with Italian elegance and even includes delicious asparagus, bringing greens to the meal in a highly satisfying style.
5. For an alternative chicken pasta salad recipe with black olives, red and yellow peppers, and a chicken and bacon combo, whip up this Fresh Sacchettini Salad. That much-loved chicken and bacon combo is simply delicious when wrapped inside our finely crafted pasta.
Summer Meals for Gnocchi Lovers
4. Too often, we think of sprouts as a winter food that only pairs with Christmas or Thanksgiving dinners. There are, however, plenty of recipes in which sprouts can work wonders all year round, such as this Cheese Gnocchi with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts dish.
3. Add some nutty notes to your mealtime with this Skillet Gnocchi Salad with Walnuts. When cheese-filled gnocchi combines with cured ham, arugula, and a tasty blend of further ingredients, what you get is a sure way to put smiles on everyone’s faces.
2. What happens if you take the ingredients of a typical pasta salad, only instead of using pasta, you throw in some gnocchi for texture and to soak up the flavours. You can find your answer in this tantalizing Gnocchi Pasta Salad.
1. We’re down to our last dish. This one is simple, satisfying, and easy to make. Lemon Maple Skillet Gnocchi Salad is made from gnocchi filled with mozzarella cheese and pesto sauce in a salad dish filled with greens, sliced pears, a touch of Dijon mustard, and sprinkle of lemon juice, and some maple syrup, but that’s not all.
Pasta Salad Tips
Serve at room temperature – Should pasta salad be eaten while hot or cold? Both are possible, but room temperature works best. That’s great news for those who want to cook in advance and leave the meal ready and waiting in the kitchen.
Drizzle in oil – Oil and vinegar are common ingredients in pasta salads, but oil is easily the more important of the two. Use virgin extra olive oil for the richest taste
Use dressing – Salad dressing is a great flavour enhancer. The dressing you decide to use will depend on the pasta salad recipe you’ve prepared, but be sure to dress the meal while it’s warm and allow the dressing to blend with flavours.
Select the right pasta – Whether you’re looking for bow tie pasta, shells, tortellini, ravioli, or something else, opt for a type of pasta that pairs well with your ingredients.
Add some juice – A little lemon juice makes a tasty addition to your dish, but you can also throw in some juicy ingredients such as olives, capers, pickles, and peppers.
For more meal inspiration, come and visit us in our kitchen.