Pasta salad facts for kids
A pasta fredda with fusili pasta, tomato and vegetables
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| Type | Pasta |
|---|---|
| Course | Appetizer, side dish or main course |
| Main ingredients | Pasta, vinegar or oil or mayonnaise |
Pasta salad is a super popular dish made with one or more types of pasta. It's almost always served cold, and it usually has a dressing made from vinegar, oil, or mayonnaise. You can enjoy pasta salad as a light meal, a side dish, or even a starter before a main course. While it's often seen as a perfect meal for spring or summer, you can definitely eat it all year round!
What's in Pasta Salad?
The ingredients in pasta salad can be very different depending on where you are. They also change with the seasons or what the person making it prefers. A pasta salad can be as simple as cold macaroni mixed with mayonnaise. This simple version is often called a macaroni salad.
But pasta salads can also be much more exciting! They can have several kinds of pasta mixed with a vinaigrette dressing. Plus, they can include lots of fresh, preserved, or cooked ingredients.
Some common ingredients you might find are:
- Different types of pasta, like ditalini or fusilli.
- Fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and peppers.
- Olives and onions for extra flavor.
- Legumes such as beans and chick peas.
- Cheeses like parmesan or feta.
- Sometimes, you'll even find nuts, herbs, or spices.
- For a heartier meal, people might add meats, chicken, or seafood like shrimp.
In North America, you'll often see pasta salads at salad bars. These usually feature ingredients like broccoli, carrots, baby corn, cucumbers, olives, onions, beans, chick peas, peppers, and parmesan or feta cheeses.
Pasta Salad Around the World
Pasta salad became really popular in Australia and New Zealand cuisine during the 1990s. This was because it became much easier to buy ready-made versions in supermarkets.
In these countries, commercial pasta salad is usually made with cooked pasta pieces. These are often shell pasta, elbow-shaped pasta, or penne. The pasta is covered in mayonnaise and mixed with carrots and capsicum (which are bell peppers). Sometimes, celery is added too. This style is quite similar to the macaroni salad found in America.
Gallery
- Pasta salads
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A pasta salad with shrimp, chicken and vegetables
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The pasta salad at the Du Ve Sue in New Orleans
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Pasta salad with lobster, butter beans and chives
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A pasta salad prepared with fusili pasta
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Macaroni salad with a mayonnaise dressing
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See also
In Spanish: Ensalada de pasta para niños
