Looking for a light, tasty, and easy-to-make dish from California? Try this California Spaghetti Salad that offers a refreshing twist on traditional pasta salads. It’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a casual weeknight meal or a vibrant party gathering.
Why You’ll Love This California Spaghetti Salad
- Simple Ingredients: Few ingredients with a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
- Versatility: Customize with your preferred pasta shape, dressing, or vegetable choices.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prepare in advance and let it chill for even better flavors.
- Refreshing Cold Salad: Ideal for warm days, picnics, and potlucks.
Ingredients
- Spaghetti noodles: Cooked, rinsed, and drained well.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halved.
- Cucumber: Diced.
- Zucchini: Diced.
- Red bell pepper: Diced.
- Green bell pepper: Diced.
- Red onion: Diced.
- Black olives: Sliced or diced.
- Bottle Italian dressing.
- Parmesan cheese: Grated.
- Sesame seeds.
- Paprika.
- Celery seed.
- Garlic powder.
How to Make California Spaghetti Salad
- Step 1: Cook the spaghetti to your liking, rinse, and drain well.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, combine spaghetti, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and olives.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
- Step 4: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Step 5: Chill for 2-3 hours before serving.
Storage Options
Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator. Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for up to 4 days. The spaghetti salad can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Variations and Substitutions
- Pasta Options: Try different pasta shapes like elbow macaroni or linguine.
- Dressing Swap: Experiment with other dressings instead of the tomato vinaigrette.
- Vegetable Choices: Mix and match with your favorite vegetables.
What to Serve With California Spaghetti Salad
- Grilled Chicken: Perfect protein complement.
- Garlic Bread: Adds a crunchy texture.
- Fresh Fruit Salad: Balances the savory flavors.
- Iced Tea: Refreshing beverage pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use different pasta shapes for this salad?
- You can use various pasta shapes like shell macaroni or any of your favorite kinds.
- Is this salad customizable?
- Absolutely! You can adjust the pasta, dressing, and vegetable choices to suit your preferences.
After preparing this California Spaghetti Salad, you can expect a delightful blend of flavors with contrasting textures. The freshness of the vegetables and the tanginess of the dressing combined with well-cooked pasta create a satisfyingly delicious dish ideal for any gathering.
Looking for a light, tasty, and easy-to-make dish from California? Try this California Spaghetti Salad that offers a refreshing twist on traditional pasta salads. It’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a casual weeknight meal or a vibrant party gathering.
California Spaghetti Salad
Ingredients
- Spaghetti noodles Cooked, rinsed, and drained well
- Cherry tomatoes Halved
- Cucumber Diced
- Zucchini Diced
- Red bell pepper Diced
- Green bell pepper Diced
- Red onion Diced
- Black olives Sliced or diced
- Bottle Italian dressing
- Parmesan cheese Grated
- Sesame seeds
- Paprika
- Celery seed
- Garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti to your liking, rinse, and drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine spaghetti, bell peppers, cucumbers, zucchinis, tomatoes, onions, and olives.
- In a separate bowl, whisk Italian dressing, Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seed, and garlic powder.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Chill for 2-3 hours before serving.