Pasta Salad with Dried Mint Dressing

CookingwithMelody.com/Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad with Dried Mint Dressing
This colorful pasta salad is a great starter dish for entertaining and can feed a large group. The homemade dried mint dressing beats any bottle of store bought dressing. I love having it for leftovers the following day.

Ingredients
24 ounces multi-colored spiral pasta
1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded, halved, then sliced into long thin strips
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded, halved, then sliced into long thin strips
1 medium orange bell pepper, seeded, halved, then sliced into long thin strips
15 oz can kidney beans, drained (2 ½ cups)
15 oz can garbanzo beans, drained (2 ½ cups)
2 cups pitted kalamata olives, drained and halved
¾ cup red onion, thinly sliced (about ½ small red onion, halved then thinly sliced)
2 cups fresh corn kernels (cut from about 2 ears)
8 oz Feta cheese, diced

Dried Mint Dressing
2 cups extra virgin olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
½ cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons, dried crushed mint
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon sugar

Preparation
Bring large pot of water to a boil and add a pinch of salt. (Follow water measurements and cooking instructions as directed on box label) Add pasta and boil uncovered, stirring often until pasta is just tender, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Combine bell peppers, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, olives, onion, and corn in a large mixing bowl. Add pasta and set aside.

Whisk all ingredients for the mint dressing in a medium mixing bowl. Pour dressing in to pasta mixture and mix well. Add feta cheese and gently toss. Refrigerate until cold and flavors combine.

Makes 6-8 Servings

*Pasta may be prepared one day ahead.

* A quick way of preparing the corn is to microwave with husks on for 3-4 minutes or more until tender. Remove husks and rinse under cold water until cool enough to handle. Holding the stem end cut downwards and remove kernels.

Download Recipe (PDF)

Photobucket

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram