What Is Spaghetti Salad?
Spaghetti salad is a crowd-pleasing pasta dish rich in vegetables and tossed in with a zesty dressing perfect as an appetizer or main dish. It is great for pasta lovers hoping to add some extra nutrients into their diet, or vegan/veggie lovers looking to add some flare to a boring pasta dish.
Ingredients:
Pasta:
1.5 to 2 cups of spaghetti
1.5 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cucumber, diced
1 zucchini, cubed
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 cup black olives, halved
Dressing:
- 1 bottle of Italian sauce
- 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon of celery seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions:
1. Cook the noodles according to package instructions, then strain it and rinse with cold water to quickly cool them down.
2. Chop all vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, red onions, cucumbers, and black olives) and place them in a large mixing bowl.
3. To make the sauce, whisk in Italian dressing, sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder in a separate mixing bowl.
4. To finish, toss the cooked pasta with all the chopped vegetables, then pour the marinade over it and mix well.
5. Cover the pasta in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.
About This Recipe
My mom, Sandy Lenchanko, went in with pneumonia last March and had a sudden cardiac arrest two days later. She battled valiantly against Smoldering Myeloma (blood cancer) for 3 years. We spent a week in the ICU and finally let her go. In the time after her passing, I found great comfort in posting her recipes on Facebook. People loved it, and I felt it was a way for her to live on through her cooking. It made the loss a little softer.
This is her special recipe, and my personal favorite, for California spaghetti salad. I hope you enjoy this easy salad. It is very nutritious and rich, and kids will also love it because of the colorful vegetables!
Homemade Spaghetti Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Pasta
- 1.5-2 cups spaghetti
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (diced)
- 1 red pepper (diced)
- 1 red onion (diced)
- 1 cup black olives (halved)
Dressing
- 1 bottle Italian dressing
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbs sesame seeds
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp celery seeds
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions, then strain it and rinse with cold water to quickly cool them down.
- Chop all vegetables (zucchini, cherry tomatoes, green and red peppers, red onions, cucumbers, and black olives) and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- To make the sauce, whisk in Italian dressing, sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder in a separate mixing bowl.
- To finish, toss the cooked pasta with all the chopped vegetables, then pour the marinade over it and mix well.
- Cover the pasta in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.
This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Michelle Lenchanko. Submit your own story here, and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.
Explore more recipes:
Late Father’s Traditional Spanish Canelones
Mexican Dad’s Traditional Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas
Grandma’s Traditional Mexican Red Chili Pork
Single Mom’s Crispy Ham And Cheese Melts On A Budget
Help us show how food brings us together. SHARE this beautiful recipe on Facebook with friends and family.1/2