Pasta, veggies and fruit and bacon all in one delicious salad!
Ingredients
Pasta and seasoning for pasta:
1- 1lbpackage pasta, any shape
1tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash seasoning*, optional, see recipe notes
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
5cupsfresh broccoli, blanched if desired
3cupsseedless red grapes
112-16 ozpackage bacon, cooked and chopped
3/4cuppumpkin or sunflower seeds
dressing:
1cupregular or light mayonnaise, I like Best Foods or Hellman's
1/3cupgranulated sugar
1/2cupdiced red onion
1/3cupwhite balsamic, red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1teaspooneach: sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse with cold water, drain well and place in a large bowl. Toss the pasta with Mrs. Dash seasoning and fresh lemon juice. Set aside.
While pasta is cooking, whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a bowl. Set aside in fridge until ready to use.
Cut broccoli into bite size pieces. Wash grapes and cut in half or leave whole. Reserve some of the grapes, broccoli, bacon and seeds for topping the salad.
Toss the pasta, broccoli, grapes, bacon, pumpkin or sunflower seeds together. Add about 3/4 of the dressing and toss again. If serving more than 2 hours later, add the bacon and seeds just before serving.
When ready to serve, add remaining dressing and bacon and toss. Sprinkle with pumpkin or sunflower seeds just before serving.
Notes
I think this salad is best when made and served on the same day. It is best to let it sit in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours before serving.
Mrs. Dash is found in the spice section of the grocery. It is a blend of herbs and spices and gives this salad an extra punch of flavors. It can be left out, but the salad is so much better with it added!
It is not necessary to reserve toppings for the salad, but makes a nicer presentation!
Make this salad into a main dish by adding 1 rotisserie chicken or chicken breast halves, cooked and chopped.