Monday, October 14, 2013

On the Menu: Easy Farmer's Market Pasta Salad

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I have a two recipes to share with you on the blog this week - centered around warm, delicious fall dinners. The first is a super easy pasta salad with customizable ingredients perfect for weeknights when you don't have much time, energy, or drive to make a hearty meal. This recipe is a great improvisational recipe where you can add whatever veggies (or fruits) you love and it'll taste fresh and delicious no matter the combo. We went to the farmer's market and bought gorgeous purple and orange bell peppers and bunches of the last of the summer herbs for this particular recipe. Keep reading for the recipe for this easy pasta salad with a bunch of farmer's market fresh herbs, veggies, mini farfalle, and Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter (found at WalMart). The recipe below makes enough for two with a day of leftovers.





You'll need:

1 box of pasta (orzo or farfalle work great due to their small size)
2 chicken thighs, cubed
1 can sliced olives
1 red onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 bunch of basil, chopped (about 1/4 c.)
1 bunch of mint, chopped (about 1/4 c.)
Juice from 1 lemon
Salt, pepper, olive oil and garlic salt to-taste

Prep: 10 minutes; Cook: 20 minutes
First chop up your red onion and two bell-peppers roughly. You'll want these veggies to be substantial enough to make up a key part of the salad. Set aside. Chop your basil and mint (we use herb scissors) and reserve. Cube your chicken thighs or breasts.

Heat up your non-stick frying pan, adding 1/2 a cube of Land O’Lakes Sauté Express® Sauté Starter (butter and olive oil with herbs that's exceptionally delicious). Toss in your bell peppers and onions and saute for about 5 minutes. Remove the veggies and reserve. Add in another 1/2 a cube of Sauté Express®Sauté Starter, 1/2 of the juice from your lemon into the skillet and your cubed chicken and saute until fully cooked. While chicken is cooking, cook pasta according to instructions on the box with some olive oil and salt added to the water for taste.

Once both chicken and pasta are cooked, transfer them both into a large bowl and add in the sliced olives, veggies, juice from 1/2 a lemon, 1/4 c. chopped basil and mint, and finally olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic salt to taste. Enjoy warm or chilled as leftovers.

13 comments

  1. I wish I could have pasta! I love this whole idea though, I may make it for my next family gathering.

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  2. Oooh this looks incredibly tasty! xx

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  3. I always love a good pasta salad. Thanks for the recipe!

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  4. I just love pasta. And pasta salads. And this pasta salad.

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  5. I love pasta, and this one looks very healthy. This would be great for my boyfriend.

    -Vogue&Heels
    www.vogueandheels.com

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  6. Could not wait to get home and see what the recipe for this amazing looking dish was! I will have to try this out :)

    xo, Nina

    afterthe40barfinish

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  7. i'd love to try this without the chicken (i'm a vegetarian!) looks delicious.

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  8. Looks so good! I'd definitely try it!

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  9. Oh this looks tasty..
    Hope
    hchdesigns.blogspot.com

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  10. That's right, this is a totally customizable meal. I think I might add some broccoli or a ton of spinach. Yum! #client

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  11. I love you can add lots of fresh veggies into this too! #client

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  12. This looks delicious and simple to make! :)

    xo - Sheila
    www.sheislovelyblog.com

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