Salad recipes

This was the side-dish my mother-in law made for Easter dinner, and my favorite. Freshly homemade pasta was mixed with basil pesto, sun-dried tomato, arugula and chunks of fresh mozzarella cheese. It was so delicious and flavorful. Here it is...

This was very good. I had a 26 ounce jar of salsa and used almost all of it. I used the last 6-8 ounces at the end right before I served it.

Antipasto pasta salad with rotini, roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, Muenster cheese, mushrooms, red onion, and fresh basil in a low-fat Italian dressing. A cold make-ahead side for potlucks and picnics.

Gourmet pasta salad with garlic-parsley spaghetti, artichoke hearts, capers, diced tomatoes, and scallions in a spicy olive oil-mustard dressing. Vegetarian and ready in 25 minutes.

Cold macaroni and pea salad with sweet red peppers, dill pickles, and pimentos in a creamy mayo dressing. Classic potluck side dish that's better the next day.

Frog Eye Salad with tiny acini di pepe pasta in a cooked pineapple custard, folded with mandarin oranges, marshmallows, and whipped topping. A classic potluck dessert salad.

Pasta bean salad with navy beans, snow peas, red pepper, toasted sesame oil, and tangy ume vinegar. A protein-packed Japanese-leaning lunch that holds up in the fridge.

Chilled pasta shells layered with basil pesto, spinach, Roma tomatoes, black olives, and shrimp. This make-ahead Italian pasta salad is a crowd-pleasing potluck star that only gets better as it sits.

Spicy Thai-inspired soba noodle salad with bell peppers, scallions, and sesame seeds in a hot sesame oil and rice vinegar dressing. Served cold and full of crunch.

Broken spaghetti twirls through a sesame-poppy seed dressing with crisp cucumbers and red onions for a pasta salad that feeds a crowd.

Simple tuna pasta salad with white albacore, green peas, red onion, and light mayo. Five ingredients, totally portable, and great for meal prep lunches or easy potluck sides.

Turkey pasta salad with corn, zucchini, and picante-creamy garlic dressing. A Tex-Mex spin on leftover turkey, ready in 20 minutes and better after a chill in the fridge.

Mexicali pasta salad: tricolor pasta tossed with tart tomatillos, sweet pineapple chunks, jalapeño, cilantro, and a lime-zest dressing made from the reserved pineapple juice. Sweet, tangy, fiery summer side.

Quick orzo salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, and fresh basil in a simple red wine vinaigrette. A 15-minute side dish that shines warm or cold, perfect for picnics and weeknights.

Pasta salad primavera: warm or cold pasta tossed with broccoli, red pepper, carrots, tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. A light, vegetable-forward Italian spring salad that works any temperature.

Australian-style macaroni salad with green beans, red bell pepper, celery, and shallots tossed in fat-free mayo. A light, crunchy, healthy side that comes together in 10 minutes flat.