Description
Mediterranean-inspired layered pasta salad delivers complex flavors with minimal effort. Colorful ingredients blend perfectly, creating a refreshing dish perfect for summer gatherings. You will crave this recipe again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups macaroni pasta, cooked and drained
- 1 1/2 cups diced ham
- 3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Vegetables and Additions:
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
- 1/3 cup chopped celery
- 1/3 cup black olives
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 3/4 cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk dressing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth and creamy, blending mayo, sour cream, white wine vinegar, sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Set mixture aside to develop flavors.
- Select a large clear glass dish for optimal visual presentation of layered ingredients.
- Create foundation layer with freshly cooked and thoroughly drained macaroni pasta, ensuring pasta is cool and not clumping.
- Spread crisp, chopped romaine lettuce evenly across pasta base, creating a vibrant green layer.
- Carefully distribute colorful vegetable components – diced red bell pepper, finely minced red onion, thawed green peas, and chopped celery – ensuring balanced coverage across the dish.
- Sprinkle diced ham and sliced black olives uniformly over vegetable layer for added texture and flavor complexity.
- Generously drizzle prepared dressing across entire salad surface, guaranteeing complete ingredient coverage.
- Crown the salad with generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese, creating appetizing final visual layer.
- Seal dish with plastic wrap or lid, then refrigerate for minimum 1 hour at 40°F to allow flavors to harmonize and ingredients to chill thoroughly.
- Remove from refrigerator, uncover, and serve cold for maximum taste and refreshing experience.
Notes
- Customize the dressing by adjusting vinegar and sugar to balance tanginess and sweetness according to personal taste preferences.
- Swap ham with grilled chicken, tofu, or plant-based protein for dietary accommodations like vegetarian or low-meat diets.
- Choose gluten-free pasta to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac conditions.
- Enhance nutrition by adding extra vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or spinach for increased color and health benefits.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg