Description
Mediterranean pasta salad brings layers of zesty flavors from fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and tangy feta cheese. Refreshing textures and colorful ingredients create a delightful summer dish you’ll crave at picnics and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) cooked and drained macaroni pasta
- 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) diced ham
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) chopped romaine lettuce
- ½ cup (118 milliliters) thawed green peas
- ½ cup (118 milliliters) diced red bell pepper
Dairy and Condiment Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) sour cream
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
Seasoning and Vegetable Ingredients:
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) finely diced red onion
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) chopped celery
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) chopped black olives
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) sugar
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) salt
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) black pepper
Instructions
- Craft a velvety dressing by whisking mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl until smooth and uniform.
- Select a transparent glass vessel or trifle dish that will elegantly display the colorful stratification of the salad.
- Establish a robust foundation by spreading of crisp romaine lettuce across the bottom of the container.
- Distribute of cooled macaroni evenly over the lettuce layer, creating a substantial pasta base.
- Introduce vibrant vegetable accents by carefully sprinkling of diced red bell pepper across the pasta surface.
- Follow with a delicate scatter of finely minced red onion, providing a sharp aromatic dimension.
- Gently cascade of tender green peas over the onion layer, adding a sweet, verdant touch.
- Incorporate of chopped celery to introduce a satisfying crunch and fresh herbal undertone.
- Generously distribute 1 of diced ham throughout the vegetable stratum, ensuring even protein coverage.
- Sprinkle of sliced black olives, creating pockets of briny complexity.
- Cascade the prepared dressing uniformly across the entire composition, ensuring each ingredient receives a delicate coating.
- Crown the salad with of shredded cheddar cheese, adding a rich, tangy finale.
- Seal the dish with tight plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 5 hours, preferably overnight, allowing flavors to harmonize.
- Immediately before serving, gently toss the salad to redistribute the dressing and ensure each ingredient is perfectly dressed.
Notes
- Elevate your pasta salad game with this stunning layered masterpiece that’s sure to impress at any gathering.
- Perfect for meal prep, this salad keeps well in the refrigerator and actually tastes better as the flavors mingle overnight.
- Transparent glass dish is key to showcasing the beautiful color gradients and appetizing layers of ingredients.
- Customize your salad by swapping ham for chicken, bacon, or keeping it vegetarian with extra veggies and protein.
- Make-ahead magic means less stress when entertaining, as this dish can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance.
- Chilling time helps ingredients absorb the creamy, tangy dressing, creating a more developed and delicious flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10
- Calories: 265 kcal
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 690mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 38mg