Summer Pasta Salad

Name: Summer Pasta Salad
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 150 -200 g spiral shaped pasta, large; 1 large avocado; 4 tomatoes, ripe (about 400gm); 1/4-1/2 red onion; 1 teaspoon garlic, minced; 8 large basil leaves; 2 teaspoons capers; 12 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar; 2 teaspoons lime juice (if limes are unavailable) or 2 teaspoons lemon juice (if limes are unavailable); 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1/2-1 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon red chili peppers, minced or 1/4 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled; pepper, to taste; 2 -3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Submitted by Kiwi Kathy

"A cold, uncooked sauce stirred through hot pasta makes an easy and nutritious meal on a hot day. Another favourite of mine from Alison & Simon Holst's "Very Easy Vegetarian Cookbook"."

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photo by Sharon123

Ready In:: 20mins
Ingredients:: 16
Serves:: 4

ingredients

150 -200 g spiral shaped pasta, large
1 large avocado
4 tomatoes, ripe (about 400gm)
¹⁄₄ - ¹⁄₂ red onion
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
8 large basil leaves
2 teaspoons capers
12 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons lime juice (if limes are unavailable) or 2 teaspoons lemon juice (if limes are unavailable)
¹⁄₂ teaspoon sugar
¹⁄₂ - 1 teaspoon salt
¹⁄₄ teaspoon red chili peppers, minced or 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
¹⁄₂ teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
pepper, to taste
2 -3 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

directions

Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water with about 1 tblspn of oil added. Drain when cooked.
While pasta is cooking, cut the avocado and tomatoes into 1cm cubes and put in a bowl. Add the finely chopped onion, garlic and roughly chopped basil and capers.
Mix the reaming ingredients thoroughly, and toss through the vegetable mixture.
When ready to serve, put the hot drained pasta into a shallow bowl, toss half the sauce through it and spoon the rest over the top. Serve at once.

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Reviews

Delicicous! I so enjoyed this salad! The avocadoes made it so creamy and I used fresh tomatoes from the garden. I halved the recipe for my DH and I. Thanks for a summer treat! Made for the Australian Swap Aug. 2009.

Sharon123
Wow! This recipe looked like it would be good, but it was even better -- fantastic! I loved the tangy flavor of the limes, vinegar and capers, and the avocado added its own buttery taste. I usually use dried basil in my recipes (to save money), but this time I used fresh and it made all the difference in the world. Next time I'm going to use two avocados -- just because I love them -- and the highest quality olive oil. Even though my olive oil was just o.k., the salad was superb. I'm sure using a better quality oil next time will take this from a 5 star to a 10 star for us. Thanks so much for sharing this keeper!

TasteTester

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Kiwi Kathy

New Zealand

Based in Whangarei NZ. My favourite recipe book is by a two NZers, Alison and Simon Holst Meals without Meat. This book is my all time stand by for healthy inexpensive meals. I wouldn't be without it. I love cooking and look forward to preparing meals each evening.

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