Poppy Seed Pasta Salad

Name: Poppy Seed Pasta Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 package (12 ounces) tricolor spiral pasta; 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes; 1 can (3.8 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained; 1/2 cup fresh broccoli florets; 1/2 cup fresh cauliflowerets; 1/4 cup julienned yellow summer squash; 1 bottle (12 ounces) poppy seed salad dressing; 1/4 cup sunflower kernels

Broccoli, cauliflower and sunflower kernels give this colorful salad an enticing crunch. You can add almost any vegetable that suits your fancy to this surprising simple recipe.

Ingredients

1 package (12 ounces) tricolor spiral pasta
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 can (3.8 ounces) sliced ripe olives, drained
1/2 cup fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup fresh cauliflowerets
1/4 cup julienned yellow summer squash
1 bottle (12 ounces) poppy seed salad dressing
1/4 cup sunflower kernels

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water.
Transfer to a large serving bowl; add the tomatoes, olives, broccoli, cauliflower and squash. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight. Just before serving, sprinkle with sunflower kernels.

Nutrition Facts

3/4 cup: 576 calories, 30g fat (4g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 601mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 3g fiber), 9g protein.

Originally published as Sweet and Crunchy Pasta Salad in Taste of Home April/May 2005

Reviews

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Average Rating:

katlaydee3

May 26, 2012

This is excellent. I substituted cucumber for the yellow summer squash. I made it with the chicken strips on the same page.
Tamiblami

Jul 13, 2010

This is the best and easiest summer salad ever. My sons request this for every get together we have. You can mix and match all the vegetables in the recipe and I also use cucumbers, in place of any vegetables not on hand and omit the olives. The sunflowers add a wonderful, crunchy nutty texture and taste.