California Pasta Salad Recipe

Name: California Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta (spiral pasta); 2 small zucchini, ends removed, chopped; 1 large cucumber, ends removed, seeded, chopped; 2 medium bell peppers, stems removed, seeded, chopped (I use 1 orange and 1 yellow for color); 1 large red onion, peeled and chopped; 1 (10 ounce) can black olives, drained well and chopped (optional(kids don't like, so I omit); 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, partially drained; 1/3 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds; 2 teaspoons poppy seeds; 1/2 teaspoon whole celery seed; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing (we prefer Kraft Zesty Italian)

Servings: persons

1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta (spiral pasta)
2 small zucchini, ends removed, chopped
1 large cucumber, ends removed, seeded, chopped
2 medium bell peppers, stems removed, seeded, chopped (I use 1 orange and 1 yellow for color)
1 large red onion, peeled and chopped
1 (10 ounce) can black olives, drained well and chopped (optional(kids don't like, so I omit)
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, partially drained
1/3 cup freshly-grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon whole celery seed
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian salad dressing (we prefer Kraft Zesty Italian)

1
Boil rotini. (Package directions will indicate 8-10 minutes. My family thinks 'al dente' translates to 'raw', so I cook the pasta 4 or 5 minutes longer, until it tastes tender.).
2
Drain pasta; rinse well with cold water.
3
In a very, very large bowl, mix cooled pasta with zucchini, cucumber, sweet peppers, onion and olives, if desired.
4
Stir in tomatoes. (I use a slotted spoon. That way, you get a little juice, but not an overwhelming amount. If fresh ones are in season, even better, of course!)
5
In a small bowl, mix grated cheese with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, celery seeds, paprika and garlic powder.
6
Sprinkle seasoning mixture over pasta; stir well.
7
Pour Italian dressing over all, stirring well.
8
Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. (Actually, I find this hits its' 'peak' at 48 hours. Stays good for several days after that, but finally begins to get mushy.).

190

kcal

Calories

Fat

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

No additional tips available.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

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This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 14 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 1 (16 ounce) package rotini pasta (spiral pasta), 2 small zucchini, ends removed, chopped, 1 large cucumber, ends removed, seeded, chopped, 2 medium bell peppers, stems removed, seeded, chopped (I use 1 orange and 1 yellow for color), and more.

Yes, California Pasta Salad falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Keep refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoy within 1–2 days for the best freshness. Best served cold — no reheating needed.

California Pasta Salad

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