Italian Salads Recipes - Springtime Pasta Salad (Insalata di Pasta Primavera) Recipe

Ingredients 

Dressing:

• 120 ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup olive oil

• 45 ml/3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2.5 ml/1/2 tsp crushed, dried red chilies

• 45 ml/3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

• 75 g/3 oz sun-dried tomatoes, diced  

• 225 g/8 oz spiral pasta

• 50 g/2 oz fresh or frozen peas

• 75 g/3 oz sliced spring onions (scallions)

• 350 g/12 oz fresh asparagus, cut into 1 cm/1/2 in pieces

• 100 g/4 oz button mushrooms, thinly sliced

• 2 carrots, thinly sliced

• 4 large lettuce leaves

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Method:

1. Blend all the dressing ingredients and leave to stand for 1 hour.

2. Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling water for 8-10 minutes  or until tender and drain.

3. Stir in the onions. Cook the peas, asparagus, mushrooms and carrots in boiling water for 1 minute Drain and add to the pasta.

4. Leave to cool. Toss in the dressing. Line four plates with the lettuce leaves and divide the pasta mixture evenly among the plates.