Karens Pasta Salad Recipes

KAREN'S SALMON SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• When pasta has come to room temperature, combine it with tomatoes, green onions, pickles, salmon, mayonnaise, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix well. Chill before serving.

KAREN'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta (salt to taste). While pasta is cooking, mix together diced tomatoes, green onions, dressing, cheese, basil and salt & pepper.
• When pasta is done, let cool for about 10 min in a serving bowl.
• Combine the pasta with the tomato mixture. You can serve immediately or refrigerate.

MAC SALAD

Steps:

• If using taro, put on kitchen gloves and wash the taro. Bring 1 to 2 inches of water to a boil in a pot with a steamer insert, then put the taro in the insert and cover tightly with a lid. Steam until tender, about 3 hours. Transfer to a plate and let cool. Use a paring knife to remove the skin, then cut into 1-inch cubes.
• Fill a large saucepan with water and add a generous pinch of salt, so the water tastes like the ocean. Scrub the potatoes, then add to the saucepan - there should be just enough water to cover - and bring up to a simmer over medium-high heat. (Don't go for a roiling boil because you want to keep the potatoes intact.) Simmer until a paring knife inserted in the center goes in and out smoothly, 20 to 40 minutes. The potatoes should look barely translucent and have small cracks and a slightly crumbly texture on the surface. Drain carefully and turn out onto a sheet pan. When cool, peel and cut into 1-inch cubes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the eggs and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and immediately transfer to a bowl of ice and water. Replenish the boiling water, if needed, and add the macaroni. Cook until softened all the way through, at least 2 minutes past al dente. Drain well and immediately run under cold water to stop the cooking.
• When the noodles are cool, drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Peel the eggs and grate them on the large holes of a box grater. Add them to the bowl, along with the potatoes, taro (if using), carrot, mayonnaise, garlic salt, sugar, black pepper, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Mix well with a spoon and adjust the seasonings to taste. Eat immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

DOUBLE-TOMATO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Holding back the sun-dried tomatoes with your fingers, drain the oil from the jar into a large pot. Coarsely chop the sun-dried tomatoes and add them to the pot, along with the nuts and olive oil. Set over medium-low and cook, stirring often, until the nuts are toasted, 5 to 6 minutes. Scrape into a large bowl (reserve the pot), then stir in the garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Fill the reserved pot with water (no need to wash) and bring to a boil. Season water with salt, add the pasta and cook until just past al dente. (The pasta will not cook further in the sauce.) Drain the pasta.
• While the water is coming to a boil, coarsely chop the ripe tomatoes. Add to the sun-dried tomato mixture, season with 1 teaspoon salt and stir to combine. (Tomato mixture can be made up to 2 hours ahead.)
• Add the drained pasta to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Let sit until room temperature, about 15 minutes or up to 2 hours. Pasta salad will keep up to 3 days if refrigerated.
• When ready to eat, taste the pasta salad. If flavors are muted, add salt and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. If it's too sweet, add black pepper and lemon juice or red wine vinegar. Stir in the greens and eat.

KAREN'S MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions.
• Drain and rinse well with cold water.
• In a large bowl mix mayo, onion, olives, salt and pepper until well combined.
• Add macaroni and mix well.
• Refrigerate until serving.

KAREN'S CREAMY TOMATO PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place farfalle pasta in the pot, cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• In a skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until evenly brown. Mix in the roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and vodka, and bring to a boil. Cook and stir 5 minutes, until most of the vodka has evaporated and mushrooms are tender.
• Mix the tomatoes, half-and-half, and red pepper into the skillet. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring frequently, 15 minutes. Serve over the cooked pasta, and top with Parmesan cheese.

CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Transfer to a large bowl. Gently stir in the tomatoes, cheese and basil., In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Refrigerate until serving.

KAREN'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Salad:.
• Cook rotini until not quite done - barely al dente -- so the spirals are still very tight. Rinse in cold water to stop the cooking. (The marination of the salad in the dressing will finish "cooking" the pasta perfectly.)
• Add remaining ingredients, being careful to separate each slice of meat and cheese when you add it.
• Gently mix the dressing into the salad.
• Marinate at least 6 hours before serving.
• Dressing:
• Mix all dressing ingredients together well by using a stick blender, whisk, or just a jar for shaking.
• Taste before adding entire mixture to salad to adjust seasonings.
• NOTE: (I frequently prepare a double batch of dressing as sometimes, after marinating in one recipe of dressing, it needs a bit more. The remaining dressing is great on any salad, like fat slices of vine-ripened summer tomatoes with fresh basil, or a Greek salad with romaine, feta and olives.