Simple Pasta Salad

Here is a simple but delicious pasta salad that can go together pretty quickly. The children can choose the ingredients, help grate/chop the veggies, grind the pepper, etc and mix the salad and best of all --- eat the salad!! Hand choppers or a food processor will assist in quickly chopping and grating the veggies and herbs.

8 Main Dish Servings

Nutrition Information using Orzo pasta: Each serving contains - 298 Calories; 9.58 g Protein; 48 g Total Carbohydrates; 4.2 g Fat; 4.8 g Fiber.

Ingredients:

1 lb small pasta, any type - I used Orzo
1 cup cooked and drained Garbanzo beans
2 small carrots, grated
1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped (Optional)
4 oz. Non-rennet Feta Cheese, crumbled coarsely or cubed
1/2 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 Tbsp Fresh basil, torn
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (Optional)
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp White Balsamic Vinegar or Wine Vinegar
Salt to taste
Freshly ground Black Pepper

Cherry tomatoes, Olives, etc for garnishing

Method:

Cook the pasta according to manufacturer's direction until just tender; drain and rinse with very cold water. Drain thoroughly.

Whisk together the mustard if using, oil, vinegar, salt, and the pepper in a large bowl.

Add the chopped herbs and mix well.

Stir in the pasta along with the chopped/grated veggies, and the garbanzos.

Sprinkle the cheese on top and combine thoroughly.

Chill and use as needed.

Allow the salad to come to room temperature and garnish each serving with the cherry tomatoes or olives as you wish.