Description
California Spaghetti Salad is a vibrant and refreshing cold pasta dish loaded with crisp vegetables, olives, and a zesty Italian dressing enhanced with Parmesan cheese and flavorful spices. Perfect for warm-weather gatherings or a light, satisfying meal, this salad combines the hearty texture of spaghetti with the crunch of fresh produce and a tangy, aromatic dressing.
Ingredients
Spaghetti
- 400-500 grams of spaghetti
Vegetables
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 2 zucchinis, cubed
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, diced
Others
- 1 can of sliced black olives, drained
- 1 bottle of Italian dressing
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti: Cook spaghetti according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- Prepare vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, cubed zucchinis, diced green and red peppers, diced red onion, and drained black olives. Mix gently to distribute evenly.
- Make dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder until all ingredients are well combined and flavorful.
- Combine pasta and vegetables: Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl of mixed vegetables and gently toss to combine all the ingredients thoroughly.
- Add dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the spaghetti and vegetable mixture. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. This chilling step allows the flavors to meld and the salad to develop its full taste.
- Final toss and serve: Before serving, give the salad one last gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and ingredients evenly. Serve chilled and enjoy.
Notes
- Chilling the salad for several hours enhances the flavor by allowing the dressing to infuse into the noodles and vegetables.
- You can add protein such as grilled chicken or chickpeas for a more substantial meal.
- Feel free to customize the vegetables based on seasonal availability or personal preference.
- If a spicier kick is desired, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Make sure to rinse the cooked spaghetti under cold water to stop the cooking process and to cool the pasta for a perfect cold salad texture.
