Rainbow Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad
This delightful Rainbow Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad is bursting with vibrant colors and fresh flavors, making it a perfect dish for gatherings or a refreshing side to your main course. Combining colorful vegetables like crisp broccoli, crunchy celery, and juicy cherry tomatoes with fun wagon wheel pasta, this salad is not only visually appealing but also a nutritious choice. The creamy dressing, enriched with garlic and mustard, complements the freshness of the vegetables beautifully. Prepare it ahead of time and chill, allowing the flavors to meld for an even more enticing experience.
N/A
Servings
200
Calories
13
Ingredients
Ingredients
Wagon wheel macaroni
250 g (uncooked)
Broccoli florets
2 cups (fresh)
Celery
1 stalk (chopped)
Green onions
2 (sliced)
Cucumber
1/4 (diced)
Fresh parsley
2 tablespoons (chopped)
Mayonnaise
1 cup (preferably Miracle Whip)
Sour cream
1/2 cup (none)
Garlic
2 cloves (minced)
Prepared mustard
2 teaspoons (none)
Paprika
1/2 teaspoon (none)
Salt
1/2 teaspoon (none)
Cherry tomatoes
8 (cut into wedges)
Instructions
1
Cook the wagon wheel macaroni according to the package instructions, adding the broccoli florets during the last 4 minutes of cooking. Once cooked, drain and rinse the pasta and broccoli under cold water to cool them down. Make sure to drain well.
2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled wagon wheel and broccoli mixture with the chopped celery, sliced green onions, diced cucumber, and fresh parsley. Stir until well mixed.
3
In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, prepared mustard, paprika, and salt until smooth and well combined.
4
Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently toss everything together until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing.
5
Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight, to allow the flavors to meld.
6
Just before serving, add the cherry tomato wedges to the salad and toss gently to ensure they are evenly distributed. Serve chilled.
Nutrition Information
8.3 g
Fat
26.7 g
Carbs
4.7 g
Protein
2 g
Fiber
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rainbow Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad?
It is a vibrant and fresh pasta salad featuring wagon wheel macaroni, a variety of colorful vegetables, and a creamy dressing enriched with garlic and mustard.
How many ingredients are required for this recipe?
This recipe requires 13 ingredients in total.
What type of pasta should I use?
The recipe calls for 250 grams of wagon wheel macaroni.
How should the broccoli be cooked?
Add the fresh broccoli florets to the boiling pasta water during the last 4 minutes of the pasta's cooking time.
What vegetables are included in the salad?
The salad includes broccoli, celery, green onions, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes.
What is in the creamy dressing?
The dressing is made of mayonnaise, sour cream, minced garlic, prepared mustard, paprika, and salt.
Which brand of mayonnaise is preferred?
The recipe suggests using mayonnaise, preferably Miracle Whip.
How much garlic is needed?
You will need 2 cloves of minced garlic.
How much sour cream is used in the dressing?
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sour cream.
How long should the salad be refrigerated?
The salad should be refrigerated for at least 2 hours, or even overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
When should I add the cherry tomatoes?
Add the cherry tomato wedges just before serving to ensure they stay fresh and are evenly distributed.
How many calories are in a serving?
There are 200 calories per serving.
What is the fat content of this dish?
Each serving contains 8.3 grams of fat.
How many carbohydrates does it contain?
There are 26.7 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
How much protein is in the Rainbow Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad?
The salad provides 4.7 grams of protein per serving.
Does this recipe provide any fiber?
Yes, it contains 2 grams of fiber per serving.
How many green onions are needed?
The recipe uses 2 sliced green onions.
How much celery should I chop?
You need 1 stalk of celery, chopped.
What amount of cucumber is used?
The recipe calls for 1/4 of a cucumber, diced.
Is fresh parsley included?
Yes, use 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley.
How much prepared mustard is required?
The recipe requires 2 teaspoons of prepared mustard.
What amount of paprika is used?
The recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of paprika.
How much salt should I add?
Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the dressing.
How many cherry tomatoes are in the recipe?
Use 8 cherry tomatoes, cut into wedges.
Do I need to rinse the pasta?
Yes, after cooking, drain and rinse the pasta and broccoli under cold water to cool them down.
What makes this a 'rainbow' salad?
The combination of various colorful vegetables like green broccoli, red tomatoes, and green onions gives it a vibrant, rainbow appearance.
Can this be served as a main course?
While it is a perfect side dish, it can also be a refreshing light main course for lunch or gatherings.
What is the first step of preparation?
The first step is cooking the wagon wheel macaroni and adding the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of boiling.
How should the dressing be combined with the salad?
Whisk the dressing separately until smooth, then pour it over the pasta and vegetable mixture and toss gently.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include salad, pasta salad, vegetable salad, rainbow salad, and side dish.