Description
Mardi Gras Pasta Salad is a vibrant and delicious dish that captures the festive spirit of Fat Tuesday with its colorful presentation and bold flavors. This quick recipe, ready in under 20 minutes, features traditional Mardi Gras colors—purple, green, and gold—making it an eye-catching addition to any celebration. Combining spiral pasta with fresh ingredients like purple cabbage, corn, and green onions, this salad offers a delightful mix of textures. Perfect for parties, picnics, or family dinners, you can easily customize it to suit your taste by adding proteins or adjusting the dressing. Whether served as a side dish or a light main course, this pasta salad is sure to impress your guests.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spiral pasta
- ½ cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 cup whole kernel corn
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ cup finely chopped green onions
- ½ cup mayonnaise (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried leaf basil
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the spiral pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain and place in a large mixing bowl.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and sauté corn for about 2 minutes until golden. Add to the pasta.
- Mix in shredded purple cabbage and green onions until evenly combined.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, dried basil, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the dressing with the pasta mixture until well-coated. Serve immediately or chill before serving for enhanced flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor. Customize by adding bell peppers or olives for extra crunch. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving to allow flavors to meld.