California Spaghetti Salad is a refreshing and colorful pasta salad that typically includes a variety of fresh vegetables, olives, and a tangy dressing. Here’s a simple recipe for California Spaghetti Salad:
Ingredients:
- 8 oz (about 225g) spaghetti noodles, cooked and cooled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper (red, yellow, or green), diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup green olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
For the Dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Cook the spaghetti: Boil the spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process. Allow them to cool completely.
- Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, green olives, and feta cheese.
- Add the cooled spaghetti: Add the cooled spaghetti noodles to the bowl with the vegetables.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Combine everything: Pour the dressing over the spaghetti and vegetable mixture. Toss everything together until well coated with the dressing.
- Chill and serve: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Before serving, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top.
- Serve: Serve the California Spaghetti Salad chilled as a refreshing side dish or a light main course.
Feel free to customize the salad by adding other vegetables or herbs according to your taste preferences. Enjoy your California Spaghetti Salad!