Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad
Enjoy a delicious Jimmy Buffett Pasta Salad, packed with tropical flavors and a hint of island vibes. It's a taste of paradise, in every bite.
Equipment
- Large pot: For boiling the rotini pasta.
- Colander: To drain the cooked pasta.
- Mixing bowl: To combine the pasta and other salad ingredients.
- Cutting board: For chopping and dicing the chicken, ham, pineapple, bell pepper, cucumber, and red onion.
- Knife: To cut and prepare the salad ingredients.
- Mixing spoon or spatula: For stirring and mixing the pasta salad.
- Measuring cups and spoons: To accurately measure the ingredients for the salad and dressing.
- Serving dish: To present and serve the finished salad.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of rotini pasta (cooked according to package instructions and cooled)
- 1 cup of diced cooked chicken
- 1 cup of diced ham
- 1 cup of diced mango or pineapple
- 1 cup of diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup of diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup of diced red onion
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup of sour cream
- 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta, and cook according to the package instructions.
- Drain the cooked pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop cooking.
- Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, black olives, red onions, parsley, basil, and cilantro.
- Add the cooked and cooled pasta to the bowl with the vegetables.
- Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a separate small bowl to make the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables.
- Toss well to coat everything evenly.
- Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the salad. Gently toss again to distribute the cheese throughout the salad.
- Cover the pasta salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together. Before serving, please give it a final toss before serving to ensure the dressing is evenly distributed. Serve chilled, and enjoy!