September 18, 2022

California Spaghetti Salad

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This colorful and delicious California Spaghetti Salad always hits the spot for a fresh, light and easy pasta salad. Perfect to take to that potluck, picnic or family get together. This California Spaghetti Salad can be prepared the day before and is even more delicious as all the flavors meld.

Fresh Veggies are the best addition for pasta salads

The best part of a pasta salad is the versatility to serve it as a side dish, or add meat and have it as a main dish. The veggies in this Salad can be grilled to give it an added smoky flavor, or change out the spaghetti noodles with a different variety of pasta for an different look. Pasta salads are perfect to adjust to your own liking.

California Spaghetti Salad

This colorful and delicious California Spaghetti Salad always hits the spot for a fresh, light and easy pasta salad.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 10 People

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad

  • 1 lb uncooked spaghetti noodles
  • 1 Pint Grape Tomatoes sliced in half
  • 1 Cucumber – diced
  • 2 Zucchinis – diced
  • 1 Small Red Onion – diced
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper – diced
  • 1 Green Bell Pepper – diced
  • 1 6.5 oz Can Sliced black olives – drained

Pasta Salad Dressing

  • ½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
  • ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese – finely grated
  • 2 tsp Poppy Seeds
  • 2 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • ½ tsp Celery seed
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • 2 Garlic Cloves finely minced

Instructions
 

Prepare Pasta Salad Dressing First

  • Combine all the Pasta Salad Dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk together, or a dressing shaker bottle and mix well.
    ½ Cup Red Wine Vinegar
    1 Cup Olive Oil
    1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
    ¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese – Finely grated
    2 tsp Poppy Seeds
    2 tsp Dried Oregano
    1 tsp Paprika
    ½ tsp Celery Seed
    ¼ tsp Salt
    2 Garlic Cloves – finely minced
  • Place the mixed Pasta Salad Dressing in the refrigerator to chill and blend together.

Preparing the Pasta Salad

  • Bring about 4 quarts of water to a boil along with about 2 teaspoons of salt.
  • Break the dry Spaghetti Noodles in thirds and add them to the boiling water.
  • Cook spaghetti noodles according to the package directions. About 9 minutes.
  • Drain the cooked spaghetti noodles and rinse in cold water.
  • Set aside until ready to mix the diced veggies with them.
  • In a large mixing bowl add the diced cucumbers, diced zucchini, diced red onion, diced red bell pepper, diced green bell pepper and drained sliced black olives.
  • Slice the grape tomatoes in half and add to the large mixing bowl along with the diced veggies.
  • Add the cooled cooked and drained spaghetti noodles to the large mixing bowl along with the veggies.
  • Drizzle the Pasta Salad Dressing over for taste and toss well.
  • Cover and chill for about 2 hours or overnight.
  • Serve cold.

Notes

You can substitute your favorite fresh veggies for this salad to make it your own. Try changing up the bell peppers to add yellow or orange bell peppers for added flavor or to replace the red and green bell peppers. 
Sweet peppers make a great flavor change in place of the bell peppers.
Add feta cheese or fresh shaved parmesan cheese to top it off.  
Keyword California Spaghetti Salad, Pasta Salad, Potluck side dish, Quick & Easy, Simple Pasta Salad, Spaghetti
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