French Rotini Pasta Salad

French Rotini Pasta Salad makes a great side dish for your next barbecue.  Using purchased salad dressing the salad comes together in minutes.

The "good ol' summer time" has unofficially come to Newfoundland and Labrador with the arrival of Victoria Day Weekend or the 24th of May or May Two Four as some call it. And with the arrival of this holiday weekend comes the official beginning of Barbecue Season--even for vegetarians! There are so many vegetarian and vegan options to throw on the grill no one ever feel left out and left to pick through the side dishes to make a meal.  But, that being said, side dishes do round out the barbecue meal and should be tasty and provide some nutrition to those who partake of the meal.  

The Victoria weekend is always a celebration at our house because it's also my birthday weekend (and this year it actually falls on the weekend).  So along with a barbecue we will be having birthday cupcakes and ice cream and a few other dishes we all like.  For anyone interested here's the menu.

Birthday Barbecue Menu

Cupcakes and Ice Cream

Apricot Crumbles

Watermelon

Veggie Burgers and Wieners

Beef Burgers and Wieners

Hotdog and Burger Buns

Barbecue Sauce

Ketchup, Mustard, Pickles, Relish

Cheese Slices

Fried Onions

Lettuce, Tomato, Cucumber 

Salad Dressings

Assorted Potato Chips

French Rotini Pasta Salad

Beet and Mustard Salad

Potato Salad

One Pot Wonder Macaroni and Cheese

Baked Beans (canned for convenience)

Corn-on-the-cob

The boys and their families will be celebrating with us so although it may look like too much food it will definitely disappear.

Here is one of the salads that will be served.  It's easy to put together using purchased French salad dressing and can be made hours before the meal and actually tastes better if made the day before.  It stays good in the fridge for several days if there are any left overs. 

Printable recipe at end of post.

French Rotini Pasta Salad

• 4 cups rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions 
• ¼ - ⅓ cup sliced green onions
• 1 - 1½ cups diced sweet peppers (I used a mix of red, green and yellow peppers)
• 1 475-ml bottle French Dressing, your favourite brand
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

Cook rotini pasta according to package directions.  Drain and rinse with cold water and let drain again to remove as much water as possible.  

In a large bowl mix the drained and cool rotini with the sliced green onion and diced peppers.  Add 1 cup of French Dressing and mix through the pasta.  Add more dressing if the salad seems dry. Taste and add salt and pepper, if needed.  

Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight. Before serving toss with more dressing if needed.  Serve in a pretty salad bowl.

Makes 8-10 servings.

Cook rotini according to package directions.  We like it softer than al dente so I cook it a few minutes longer.  Drain when cooked and rinse with cold water and drain again.

Just a few fresh ingredients make for a tasty salad.

Slice and dice the vegetables and add to the pasta. I also used green pepper but you can't see it as it's hiding underneath the red and yellow peppers.

Add one cup of your favourite French Dressing and mix everything together.  Add more dressing if the salad is dry.  Taste for salt and pepper. Chill 4 hours or overnight.  Before serving add more dressing if needed.

French Rotini Pasta Salad makes a great side dish for your next barbecue.

To print click on arrow upper right side.⇩