Description
California Spaghetti Salad is a vibrant, refreshing pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables, tangy Italian dressing, and a hint of Parmesan and spices. Perfectly chilled and tossed with colorful peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and olives, this salad is an ideal side dish for summer gatherings or light meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Spaghetti
- 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 & Seasonings
- 1 bottle of Italian dressing
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon celery seeds
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta quickly, stopping the cooking process; set aside.
- Prepare vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, cubed zucchinis, diced green and red peppers, diced red onion, and drained sliced black olives. Toss gently to mix.
- Make the dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together the Italian dressing, grated Parmesan cheese, sesame seeds, paprika, celery seeds, and garlic powder until fully blended.
- Combine pasta and vegetables: Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl with the mixed vegetables and toss them together evenly.
- Add dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the spaghetti and vegetables. Toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Serve: Give the salad a final toss before serving chilled for a refreshing and flavorful pasta salad.
Notes
- Ensure spaghetti is completely cooled before mixing to prevent the dressing from becoming oily.
- Adjust the amount of Italian dressing to taste depending on preferred flavor intensity.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for an extra layer of freshness if desired.
- Can be made a day ahead and kept refrigerated for best flavor.
- Optional: Add cooked chicken or chickpeas to increase protein content for a fuller meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
