Sunday, March 25, 2012

Bountiful Pasta Salad with Beans

In our home, pasta salads can be a side dish or, if they're full of enough goodies, be the main dish.  There are two main beans that I think go well in green and pasta salads: garbanzos and kidneys - although any kind of bean can be the basis for a good salad.  Sometimes in my pasta salads, I'll kick up the protein a bit by adding one of these beans.  In this salad, I used garbanzos.  I also love to fill my salads chock full of a variety of crunchy, flavorful ingredients.  This salad is no different.  Don't forget, when you add the raw veggies to hot pasta, they blanch just enough to be tender.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we did.



Bountiful Pasta Salad with Beans

Ingredients:

1 lb. small pasta (this time I used two seven oz. bags of small stars)
2 cups broccoli, chopped small
2 green onions, sliced
1 cup red cabbage, chopped small
1 can of quartered artichoke hearts, in water, halved lengthwise
1 15oz. can black whole olives, drained
1 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained
1 cup of  salad dressing - I like to use Italian style for this
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions.  While pasta is cooking, prepare your vegetables and beans.  Drain the pasta and put in a large bowl immediately along with the veggies and beans.  Stir well.  Add the dressing and stir again.  Season to taste and stir.  Chill for at least two hours before serving, or if you're in a rush, you can serve this warm.  Be sure to chill in a non-breakable bowl.  Feeds five hungry vegans.



11 comments:

  1. I don't eat pasta often but pasta salad around this time (the start of baseball season) is kind of a tradition for me, so I love to see other people's varities. I agree that beans are a necessary addition - and the red cabbage looks beautiful! I may need to add that next time!

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  2. I love this pasta salad. A refreshing salad on a nice Spring day...sounds wonderful.

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  3. Your salad looks so pretty and spring-like! I was going to make pasta with red sauce tonight, but yours looks so good with the fresh veggies, I may have to change my plan.

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  4. I love the combination you've put together! I think I've never had a pasta salad with beans, so will have to bookmark this recipe!

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  5. FF, I put in pasta salad whatever I put in green salad, except for the lettuce. So, in red cabbage went. So, I guess it's the Giants for you?

    Millie, it was, thank you. :-)

    Rose, the weather wasn't too cold, so it worked out. On a colder day, I love me some red sauce, too!

    Ingrid, I don't put beans in all the time, but sometimes they hit the spot.

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  6. Pasta salad always makes me think of summer, maybe that's why I'm so fond of the dish. You've got a ton of great stuff in your salad — makes me want to go on a picnic. If only.

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  7. Andrea, ah, yes, I think even Californians have to wait a bit longer for their picnic pasta salads. :-)

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  8. Yum yum yum. Have you ever tried it with raw veg? I do that sometimes to keep the nutrition in & it tastes delightful too.

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  9. Claire, thanks! Yes, these are raw - the hot pasta is the only thing that might "cook" them.

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  10. Sorry to post this on your blog, Blessed Mama, but wasn't sure how else to contact you...

    Just wanted to let you know that you're featured in a very special story on my blog.

    http://superearthling.blogspot.com/2012/03/it-was-dark-and-stormy-night-at.html

    Enjoy!

    --Susan

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