Refreshing Cold Pasta with a Fresh Herbal Scent
Cool and Freshly Aromatic Cold Pasta
While dishes like risotto or carbonara might not be ideal for packed lunches, this cold pasta is a perfect option. It’s incredibly refreshing and a great way to enjoy a light meal.
Main Ingredients- 150g pasta (spaghetti or linguine recommended)
- 200g mixed salad greens
- 1/2 onion
- 5 cherry tomatoes
- 10g cheese (e.g., Parmesan), for garnish
Special Vinaigrette Dressing- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 4 Tbsp vinegar (rice vinegar or white wine vinegar work well)
- 2g black pepper (a pinch)
- 2g grated cheese (e.g., Parmesan, for dressing)
- 5 Tbsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped onion
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 4 Tbsp sugar
- 4 Tbsp vinegar (rice vinegar or white wine vinegar work well)
- 2g black pepper (a pinch)
- 2g grated cheese (e.g., Parmesan, for dressing)
- 5 Tbsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped onion
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly wash the salad greens and pat them dry. Place them in a bowl of cold water with 1 tablespoon of vinegar for about 10 minutes. This step helps to crisp up the greens and make them extra refreshing.
Step 2
Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt (about 10g per liter of water) and cook the 150g of pasta according to package directions, perhaps 1-2 minutes less than the recommended time for al dente. Overcooking can make the pasta mushy when served cold.
Step 3
While the pasta is cooking, thinly slice the 1/2 onion and halve the 5 cherry tomatoes. If you find raw onion too sharp, you can soak the sliced onion in cold water for a few minutes to mellow its flavor.
Step 4
Once the pasta is cooked al dente, drain it and immediately rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool it down. This helps achieve a chewy texture. Drain well. Arrange the cooled pasta on a serving plate or in a bowl. Top with the prepared sliced onion, halved cherry tomatoes, and the crisp salad greens. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, sugar, vinegar, black pepper, grated cheese (for the dressing), salt, and finely chopped onion to create the vinaigrette. Drizzle this delicious dressing generously over the pasta and vegetables. Finally, garnish with the additional 10g of cheese, if desired, for an extra touch of flavor. Your refreshing and aromatic cold pasta is ready to be enjoyed!
