Andi’s Pasta Salad with Blue Cheese, Broccoli, and Grapes
Description:
This pasta salad recipe holds a special place in my heart as it’s inspired by a dish my best friend’s sister used to make. It’s a flexible recipe where you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. I recommend not substituting reduced-fat or fat-free dressing for the blue cheese dressing, as it significantly affects the taste. Marie’s brand dressing is my preferred choice, but you can also use homemade if you prefer. Keep in mind that this salad needs time to chill, so plan accordingly.
Ingredients:
- 1 box rotini pasta
- 1 head fresh broccoli
- 2 cups white seedless grapes
- 1 cup red seedless grapes
- 1/2 – 1 cup black olives
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups diced red onion
- Salt (to taste)
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- Sunflower seeds
Dressing:
- 1 jar blue cheese dressing (Marie’s brand recommended)
- Reserved canning liquid from olives (or cold water)
Instructions:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. |
| 2 | While the pasta is cooking, prepare the broccoli by cutting it into bite-sized florets. Wash the grapes and slice them in half. Dice the red onion and set aside. |
| 3 | In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, broccoli florets, grapes, black olives, and diced red onion. |
| 4 | In a separate mixing bowl, pour the entire jar of blue cheese dressing. Add a small amount of the reserved canning liquid from the olives to thin the dressing to your desired consistency. Stir well until evenly mixed. |
| 5 | Pour the thinned blue cheese dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing. |
| 6 | Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight if possible. Chilling allows the pasta to absorb the dressing, enhancing the flavor. |
| 7 | Before serving, taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper if needed. Toss the salad again to ensure everything is well mixed. |
| 8 | Garnish the salad with additional toppings if desired. Crumbled cooked bacon or sunflower seeds add a delightful crunch and flavor contrast. Alternatively, you can stir these garnishes into the salad itself for added texture. |
| 9 | Serve the pasta salad chilled as a refreshing side dish or a light meal on its own. Enjoy the delightful combination of flavors and textures with each bite! |
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 392.8
- Fat: 24.4g
- Saturated Fat: 4.4g
- Cholesterol: 6.2mg
- Sodium: 782.9mg
- Carbohydrates: 38.8g
- Fiber: 3.5g
- Sugar: 7.5g
- Protein: 7.3g
Recipe Notes:
- Feel free to customize this pasta salad according to your preferences. You can add other vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, or bell peppers for additional color and flavor.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon garnish and stick to plant-based toppings like sunflower seeds or toasted nuts.
- Make sure to toss the salad well before serving to ensure that each bite is coated with the creamy blue cheese dressing.
- This pasta salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or as a light lunch option. Prepare it ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to serve for added convenience.
