Pasta salad |Tasty Italian market pasta salad |purple cabbage penne pasta salad with walnuts

Prepared with one or more types of pasta, usually chilled, and most often tossed in a vinegar, oil or I have dressing.
Make delicious and easy pasta salads -- a potluck and picnic favorite -- for your next event. 

Fresh veggies,nuts and chilled pasta provide gorgeous color, making this dish sure to attract grazers at any bash.



I have combined both mayonnaise-dressing with a light lemon-herb dressing which highlight this delicious -- and pretty -- pasta salad recipe.
Walnuts,purple cabbage give crunch, dates raisins gives bite, and red yellow belpepper gives zip to this Italian pasta salad recipe.
 Olive oil and apple cider vinegar (or, if you prefer, Balsamic vinegar) give it its Italian flair.

Ingredients

penne pasta or any other pasta  (about 1.5 cups uncooked)
1  cherry tomatoes, quartered
1  medium cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
4  green onions, sliced
5-6 dates cut lengthwise
half red,green ,yellow bell pepper cubed
half small purple cababge shredded
1 small raddish shredded
small brocolli florets blanched
carrot shredded

Nuts
1/4 cup dates
1/4 cup toasted walnuts
1/4 cup toasted pista /almonds

Dressing
2 tbsp  olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice / apple cider vinegar
1  tablespoons  snipped fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1  tablespoons  snipped fresh oregano or 2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1 tsp mixed herbs
4  cloves garlic, minced
1/4  teaspoon  salt
1/4  teaspoon  ground black pepper
1/2  cup  crumbled feta cheese (optional)
1 tbsp  mayonnaise


Garnish

Fresh chopped parsley/basil leaves


Method:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water, and drain again.

2.combine all ingredients of dressing mentioned above and blend well with a whip.refrigerate

3. In a large bowl combine cooked drained pasta with nuts and other ingredients.

4. Drizzle dressing over pasta mixture; toss to coat.chexck seasoning and adjust accordingly.

5. Cover and chill in refrigerator for as least 1 hours or up to 5 hours. 

6.To serve, add feta cheese if using and toss well. Sprinkle fresh basil leaves and serve chilled



Tips
1 Use veggies as per avialability and choice
2.Can make a plain italian dressing with olive oil,mixed herbs,salt,crushed pepper ,vinegar and lime juice  and skip mayonnaise
3.Can increase amount of cheese and mayonnaise if you liKE CHEESY salad
4 can add basil pesto sauce to above salad
5.Can use Mustard and Dill Dressing or plain mayonnaise dressing
6 Can add pomegranate kernels or chopped grapes or chopped apples to abo