Creamy Chicken Soup
Grilled chicken, oven-cooked salmon fillets or grilled halloumi are all delicious protein options and the ideal partners to this dish. For even more vegetable-goodness, grilled asparagus or broccolini topped with lemon juice and rock salt can push the taste of your dish even further.
Make sure your pasta is properly cooked as it needs to soften for the cheese to properly stick to the pasta once melted. If you’re still not satisfied, why not go all out and increase the cream cheese content? Or add some grated Parmesan for a different, cheesier and creamier take.
Making your pasta salad the night before won’t change or enhance the flavour, but it will save you some time. This salad is also a perfect choice for a packed lunch to quickly grab from the fridge and take to work.
Rinsing your pasta with cold water is a bad idea as it will wash off the starch that helps your creamy sauce to cling to the pieces. The outcome will be a disappointing salad.
There are few salads more satisfying than pasta salad – the combination of fresh, crisp vegetables with the smooth, filling pasta is a sure-fire hit with most people. Did we mention that it is the perfect lunch choice for a picnic in the park? Simply prepare in advance, pack in a sealable container, and enjoy once you reach your destination.
Italian-style dressings work particularly well with this salad: one simple but satisfying approach is to mix equal parts olive oil and balsamic vinegar with some basil, oregano, ground mustard, salt and pepper to taste. When it comes to toppings, adding some crunch to contrast the soft texture of the salad helps take the dish to the next level – garlic bread croutons work especially well.
Your pasta salad can be safely kept in the fridge in an airtight container for three to four days. It can also be frozen in portions if you want to store the dish for longer, though as always with salads, the best results come from making it fresh to serve.
