Cobb Pasta Salad
Cooking time: 25 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for instructions
I've decided that any lettuce salad can be converted to a pasta salad. Since the season for lettuce is rather short, this theory works well for the rest of the summer. No barbecue grill needed for this meal
Cobb Pasta Salad
Total time: 25 minutes
This is not a traditional pasta salad. With lots of vegetables and big chunks of ham, cheese and egg, no one will mistake this for a small side dish. I didn't thoroughly cool the beans. As I wanted them to retain a bit of warmth I just rinsed lightly.
Ingredients:
- 8oz (240gr) ham or smoked turkey, thick slice get it at the deli counter
- 6oz (180gr) green beans I used flat, Italian or runner beans
- 2oz (60gr) cheese Cheddar, Colby
- 2 eggs, hard-boiled
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 orange bell pepper
- 1/2 cup (3oz, 90gr) cherry tomatoes
- 10 - 12 basil leaves
- 1 1/4 cups (4.2oz, 125gr) pasta, bite-size, fusilli, elbow
- White Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
- 2 tbs white Balsamic vinegar
- 3 tbs salad olive oil
Instructions:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. When done, drain.
- Boil eggs.
- Top and tail beans... cut off the ends. Cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths (4cm).
- Bring a medium saucepan half full of water to a boil over high heat.
- Add beans and blanch for 4 minutes.
- Remove, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- Slice pepper, about 1/4" thick (.5cm) then cut slices in half.
- Slice ham or turkey and cheese into large, bite-size chunks.
- Cut cherry tomatoes in half.
- Cut avocado into large chunks.
- When eggs are done, cool, peel and cut into chunks.
- Tear large basil leaves in half.
- Make vinaigrette:
- Whisk vinegar,and mustard.
- Slowly whisk in oil and whisk until it emulsifies.
- To assemble: Put drained pasta in a large bowl and add vinaigrette. Toss well to combine.
- Add ham, peppers, tomato and beans, toss well.
- Add cheese, egg, basil and avocado. Stir gently, just to combine.
- Serve.
Cooking schedule: 25 minutes
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives,
small bowl, whisk, medium saucepan, strainer, pot
for pasta, colander, small saucepan with lid
Put pot of water on high heat for pasta
Hard-boil eggs
Heat water for beans
Top, tail and cut beans
Slice ham
Cut cheese |
Slice pepper
Cut tomatoes
Blanch beans
Start to cook pasta
Drain beans and rinse
Make vinaigrette
Cool, peel, chop eggs
Cut avocado
Tear basil if needed
Drain pasta, put into serving bowl
Assemble salad and serve |