A Pasta Salad Tour

 
A pasta salad is one of the easiest, quickest meals or sides to make in the summer. Much of it can be prepped in advance and it’s a great way to get your daily dose of vegetables. It’s highly customizable too. Don’t like one of the ingredients? Leave it out and add something else that you like. Not a fan of the dressing? Replace it with your favorite!

It seems like pasta salads are universal, too. Different regions in the world have their own unique take on it. Let’s take a quick tour around the globe, shall we?

Let’s get started with a stop in the Mediterranean. Because it’s pretty there. Blue waters, cool ocean breezes, colorful markets, and great food. Fresh, simple dishes that are healthy but definitely not short on flavor. We’ve got some great choices there, like a Greek Pasta Salad from ThreeManyCooks and a wonderfully fresh Mediterranean Orzo Salad from mcmom.

 
 
 
How about a stop in the far east for that wonderful pasta known as soba noodles? Soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour. They’re rich in thiamine and can also be served cold or warm. They have a delightful texture, a subtle nutty flavor, and provide an excellent twist to regular pasta salads.
 

Clockwise from left: Soba Salad with Asparagus and Shiitake Mushrooms from wynk52, Spicy Ginger Soba Chicken Salad from Sally Wolff, and Spicy Peanut Soba Noodles from runningwithtweezers.

 
While we’re exploring Asia, you may also want to try Ree’s awesome Asian Noodle Salad below. It’s beyond amazing. It truly is. And I’m not just saying that because she’s listening.

 
 
 
We can’t take a tour without visiting Italy since, after all, pasta is more often associated with Italy. Here we have pattilouwho’s Ancini di Pepe Savory Pasta Salad (on the left) which just looks absolutely fresh and summery. If you’re looking for a bolder, richer kind of salad, a Pasta Salad with Fresh Mozzarella, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Olives from theparsleythief is just the recipe you need.

 
 
 
Or perhaps you’d rather wing it and do your own thing. That’s fine too! Many great recipes here at Tasty Kitchen are the result of your creative winging. If that sounds like something you’d like to do (and hey, maybe Zee might want to help out too), you can use one of these basic recipes as a start and build from there. We have a delicious and Fabulously Adaptable Pasta Salad from nhsweetcherry (on the left), or you can try the Basic Pasta Salad from Tracy (sugarcrafter) on the right.

 
 
 
So if you’re looking for a quick and easy summer meal (or side), check out the Pasta Salads category! I have a good feeling you’ll find something that tickles your fancy.

 
Then please come back here and share some with me. I’m hungry.