Description
This recipe features a delicious Cold Pasta Salad with broccoli, peppers, zesty Italian dressing, and Parmesan cheese. It’s easy to make, and the flavors only improve as it sits, making it perfect for making ahead.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces Rotini or other small pasta
- 2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets blanched if desired (see notes)
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 red onion peeled and cut into strips
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces Homemade Italian dressing or store bought
Instructions
- First of all,In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.Now add 1 tablespoon of salt to the boiling water.
- Carefully add the pasta to the pot and cook for about 8 minutes, or until it is al dente.Once cooked, drain the pasta well.Rinse the pasta with cold water to stop the cooking process.Drain the pasta again before serving.
- In a large bowl, combine broccoli florets, bell peppers, and onion.Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to the bowl with the vegetables.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the pasta and vegetables.Drizzle salad dressing over the mixture.Toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly combined.
- Transfer the salad to a serving bowl.After this,Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap.Place the bowl in the refrigerator.Allow the salad to chill for at least 2 hours.
- Give the salad a gentle stir to combine all the ingredients. If needed, add additional salad dressing to prevent the pasta from becoming dry.Mix well to ensure the dressing coats all the components evenly.
Notes
To blanch broccoli:Fill a pot with 2 quarts of water and add 1 tablespoon of salt.Bring the water to a boil.Add the broccoli to the boiling water and cook for approximately 3 to 4 minutes, or until the broccoli is tender and has turned bright green.Drain the broccoli.Immediately transfer the cooked broccoli to a bowl filled with ice water. This will halt the cooking process and help the broccoli retain its vibrant color and crispness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12 servings
- Calories: 224 kcal
- Sugar: 2.5g
- Sodium: 157.1mg
- Saturated Fat: 3.1g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 7.2mg