Easy Minestrone Pasta Salad
This recipe is a family favorite because it is easy to make and tastes good fresh and even better the next day. Over the years, I have substituted different items depending upon what pastas, veggies, marinades or beans I have on hand so follow the basic recipe and improvise with what you have aboard your boat.
Combine 3 cups of cooked bow tie pasta (you can also use shells, rotini, or elbows if you want), red kidney beans, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, carrots, and green bell peppers, all tossed in 2/3 cup of Italian Dressing and Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
- 3 cups bow tie pasta (uncooked)
- 2/3 to 1 cup Italian Dressing (I use Kraft Zesty)
- 1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 can (15 oz) red kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas / garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained)
- 1 can (14.5 oz) Italian-style diced or stewed tomatoes (drained)
- 2 medium carrots (sliced into rounds)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (chopped)
Directions
- Cook the Pasta: Follow package directions, cook until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to cool it down.
- Combine Vegetables and Beans: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained kidney beans, chickpeas, diced tomatoes, sliced carrots, and chopped bell pepper.
- Toss: Add the cooled pasta to the vegetable mixture. Pour the Italian dressing over everything and toss well to coat.
- Add Cheese and Chill: Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the flavors blend together before serving. (If you are in a hurry, it tastes good warm too, but it’s better if you wait.)
Substitutions:
- Substitute Lawry’s Herb and Garlic or Lemon Pepper Marinade for Italian Dressing.
- Use Cannellini Beans (white kidney beans) instead of red kidney beans or garbanzo beans.
- Chop fresh tomatoes instead of canned.
- Use pre-cut carrots.
- Any color bell pepper.
Additions:
Add chopped salami slices, pre-cooked chicken, shrimp or sausage. Chopped canned or bottled olives can be used if you want to keep it vegetarian. I would add a little more dressing, if you add more protein.
This recipe makes a large bowl of hardy pasta salad that your family and guests will enjoy while on the boat. It is also great for bringing to potlucks on the dock. I hope you enjoy it!
