Menu Plan for the week of July 19, 2013: Thursday's Recipes
Ham, Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Salad
Cooking time: 25 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
An easy Pasta Salad to finish the week.
Ham, Green Bean and Cherry Tomato Pasta Salad
Total time: 25 minutes
I love cold ham in salads of any type and beans with basil is always a hit. Here, it all comes together with a lower fat/calorie dressing of half mayonnaise and half Greek Yogurt.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups (4.1oz, 125gr) pasta, bite-size - fusilli, rigatoni, penne
- 1 tbs olive oil, for salads
- 10oz (300gr) deli-style (baked) ham
- 6oz (180gr) green beans
- 1/2 cup (3oz, 90gr) cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60gr) mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup (2oz, 60gr) plain or Greek yogurt
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 1 tbs lemon juice
- 2 tbs fresh chives, snipped
- 2 tbs fresh basil, snipped
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse in cold water and toss with olive oil.
- Top and tail beans, cut into 1 inch lengths.
- Fill a medium saucepan 2/3 full of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Add beans and blanch for 3 minutes.
- While the beans cook fill a large bowl or pan 3/4 full of cold water.
- When the beans are done, drain and dump into the cold water. Swirl around until cool then drain and set aside.
- Snip herbs.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
- Cut ham into inch squares (or cubes depending on how thick) - or larger if you prefer.
- In small bowl whisk mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard and lemon juice.
- Put pasta, ham, beans, herbs and tomatoes in large salad bowl.
- Add mayonnaise dressing and toss lightly to combine - a tongs works well. Serve.
Cooking schedule: 25 minutes
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
large pot for pasta, colander, medium saucepan,
small bowl, whisk, pasta bowl, medium bowl
Put water on high heat for pasta
Put water on high heat for beans
Top and tail beans, cut
Prepare cold water for beans
|
Start to cook pasta
Blanch beans
Drain, plunge into cold water, drain
Snip all herbs
Cut tomatoes in half
Cut ham
Make dressing
Drain pasta, put in bowl
Finish salad and serve
|