It is now well known that thecold saladwhether mixed, rice, chicken, seafood, or pasta, is the star of the summer. Of all those listed, pasta is the liveliest and richest in carbohydrates, becoming the favorite choice of ‘pasta makers’. It is a must because it is a dish colorful, fresh, tasty which is prepared with ease, savored with pleasure and is perfectly suited to both business lunches and those at the seaside. However, the result is not always the one hoped for. Below, in fact, I leave you tips and tricks to have a perfect and satisfying result!
Tips for a perfect cold pasta
Pasta shapes and cooking
Choose small and compact formats: such as fusilli, rigatoni, ditalini and mezze penne. These formats are less slippery and tend to break less than the long ones.
Cook the pasta to perfection: Don’t drain it too al dentebecause as it cools the dough can lose elasticity and harden slightly.
Seasoning and cooling
It is best to prepare the sauce in advance so that you can add it right away. This helps prevent the pasta from sticking. You can also avoid rinsing the pasta under running water. Instead, let it cool on a baking tray lined with baking paper with a drizzle of oilto retain the starch and flavor.
Ingredients
Use quality ingredients: Avoid pre-packaged condiments, often too acidic, and prefer fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Cut them into small pieces: Halved cherry tomatoes, diced vegetables and diced ham mix best with pasta. Opt for soft pickles such as capers, olives and spring onions. Avoid raw vegetables that are too hard (like carrots, unless julienned) and condiments that bind the dish together like grated cheese or mayonnaise.
Timings
Don’t make it too far in advance: Making pasta salad a day or more in advance can cause the pasta to lose flavor and consistency, and it can become sticky by absorbing water from the other ingredients. The ideal is to make it a few hours before serving (about two hours), removing it from the fridge one half an hour before eating it.
Cold Pasta Recipe
Ingredients for 4 people
- 380 g of fusilli (or any other short format)
- 130 g of diced cooked ham
- a handful of datterini tomatoes
- 30 g of caciocavallo or filatino or galbanino
- Taggiasca olives to taste
- basil, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper to taste
- broccoli florets (if you prefer)
Preparation
To prepare Cold pasta salad with vegetables and hamstart by combining all the diced ingredients in a bowl, except the broccoli florets. Season with oil, salt and pepper, mixing well to combine the flavors. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Once cooked, drain and let it cool on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
When the pasta is coldpour it into a bowl and add the dressing along with another spoonful of oil. Mix everything together and garnish with basil leaves and a few slices of cooked ham, sliced and rolled up in the center of the plate like a little rose. Let the pasta salad rest in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Then take it out of the fridge half an hour before eating it, so that it comes back to room temperature and then you will be ready to enjoy it. Enjoy your meal!
Read also: Pasta fredda caprese, the first quick and good to prepare in advance with a secret: what to add to the oil
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