Description
California Spaghetti Salad is a refreshing and colorful pasta salad featuring a medley of fresh vegetables tossed with spaghetti and a zesty Italian dressing. This make-ahead dish is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light summer meal, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully after chilling.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 400-500 grams of spaghetti
Vegetables
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 2 zucchinis, cubed
- 1 green pepper, diced
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 can of sliced black olives, drained
Dressing and Seasonings
- 1 bottle of Italian dressing (approx. 16 oz)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the Spaghetti: Prepare the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down, then set aside.
- Mix the Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, cubed zucchinis, diced green and red peppers, diced red onion, and drained sliced black olives.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder until well combined.
- Combine Pasta and Vegetables: Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl with the mixed vegetables and gently toss to combine.
- Add Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the spaghetti and vegetable mixture, tossing gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve: Before serving, give the salad a final gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and flavors evenly.
Notes
- For best flavor, make the salad at least 3 hours ahead or overnight.
- You can substitute the Italian dressing with a homemade vinaigrette if preferred.
- Add cooked chicken or turkey to make it a more filling meal.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if desired, as the Italian dressing usually contains salt.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute spaghetti with gluten-free pasta.
