Picnic pasta and vegetable salad

Name: Picnic pasta and vegetable salad
Ingredients: 4000 ml water; 400 g short pasta; 2 medium cucumbers (300 g); 300 g tomatoes; 1 medium red bell pepper (150 g); 1 medium red onion (150 g); 5 g Himalayan pink salt; 30 ml balsamic vinegar; 30 ml olive oil; 80 g pitted black olives; 1 g dried oregano; 60 g grated caș

Salad - Picnic pasta and vegetable salad by Ligia J. - Recipia

The picnic pasta and vegetable salad brings together short pasta, raw vegetables and grated caș, a fresh Romanian cow's milk cheese, in one bowl. Balsamic vinegar and a little oil bring it all together, while the vegetables stay firm alongside the cold pasta. I like to leave the pasta firm so it doesn't soften when I toss it with the vegetables. Prep: 20 minutes. Cook: 10 minutes. Total: 30 minutes. Serves: 4. About 570 kcal and 19 g protein per serving.

Ingredients

4000 ml water
400 g short pasta
2 medium cucumbers (300 g)
300 g tomatoes
1 medium red bell pepper (150 g)
1 medium red onion (150 g)
5 g Himalayan pink salt
30 ml balsamic vinegar
30 ml olive oil
80 g pitted black olives
1 g dried oregano
60 g grated caș

Preparation

1. Bring 4000 ml water to a boil in a pot. Add the pasta and cook for 10 minutes, or for the time on the package, until firm. 2. Meanwhile, peel the cucumbers and cut them into rounds, then halve the rounds. Wash the tomatoes and dice them, cut the pepper into small dice and julienne the onion. 3. Drain the pasta, rinse it with cold water and let it drain well. 4. Put the pasta and vegetables in a large bowl. Add 5 g salt and 30 ml balsamic vinegar, then toss. Drizzle with 30 ml olive oil and scatter the olives, oregano and grated caș over the top.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use 400 g gluten-free pasta; cooking time may vary from one package to another. Regular pasta contains gluten, and cow's milk caș is a dairy product. Short, ridged pasta holds the little pieces of vegetables well and is easy to pick up with a fork. Choose meaty tomatoes that aren't too soft; if they are very juicy, remove the seeded part before dicing them. Large cucumbers can have a watery center, which you can remove. Draining the pasta is the step many people rush, but any water left on it will thin the mixture. Keep the salad covered in the fridge and eat it within 3 days; if you make it ahead, add the grated caș just before serving. Serve it alongside grilled chicken.