Balsamic Salad with Pasta
Balsamic salad with pasta is a creamy, filling salad perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a side for barbecues and potlucks in the warmer months. This easy salad features tons of flavorful veggies and lots of crunch all tossed in a tangy dressing.
Servings: 6
Calories: 218kcal
Ingredients
- 5-6 oz spring mix lettuce
- 1 cup matchstick carrots chopped
- 3 roma tomatoes seeded & diced
- 2 cups steamed broccoli florets cooled completely & chopped
- 2-3 cups cooked pasta drained & cooled completely, roughly 8 ounces uncooked
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced pimento stuffed green olives
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp balsamic dressing
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients (except salt & pepper) to a large mixing bowl, stir until evenly combined.
- Taste and season with salt & pepper, as desired.
- Serve immediately & enjoy!
Notes
- Don't worry- yes, the mayo will mix in evenly- moisture from the dressing and veggies will ensure this.
- Don't skip the mayo, it gives this salad the slightly creaminess that really sets it apart from traditional side salads.
- I like to chop the lettuce before adding to the mix that way there's no big pieces and a little bit of everything in each bite. Easiest way I've found to do this is dump the lettuce into the mixing bowl first, and give it 3-4 good snips with a pair of kitchen sheers.
- Want more veggies in your salad? Chopped cucumbers and drained and chopped canned beets are both delicious in this
- You may find you want more mayo, but don't over do it. You want just enough to make the mixture slightly creamy. It's first and foremost a salad, NOT a pasta salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 301mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 4323IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg