Summertime comes around and what better way to feel refreshed than this ham and pea pasta salad? It takes only a few ingredients and very little effort, so it’s a good meal for any time.
Don’t worry about planning or making regular trips to the grocery store, you can make this with any of the food in your kitchen or pantry.
Surprise Your Guests With a Tasty Ham and Pea Pasta Salad
Cooking Time!
Usually, this pasta dish is made with macaroni, but any other pasta works. If you are gluten-free, try lentil, chickpea, or rice pasta. The key part is cooking the pasta so it is al dente.
As for the meat, as you know already, ham is a star ingredient in this salad. However, if you don’t have any ham, use canned ham or Spam, bacon, Vienna sausages, canned chicken, or tuna.
Now, it’s time to talk about vegetables. While celery, onions, and green peas are an essential part of this salad, you can use other vegetables as well. Some good options include carrots, mushrooms, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes.
Also, for crunch, you can add sliced almonds or walnuts. These are not indispensable, but can be a good mix for a cold salad.
Onto the seasoning!
This recipe uses mayonnaise, ranch dressing, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If you only have ranch dressing, that works just as well without the mayo, and vice-versa.
To make this salad healthier, you can also use plain Greek yogurt and mix it with lemon juice, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Otherwise, any other dressing can work well, especially if it’s creamy. For a different taste, go with Thousand Islands or Tahini-Lime.
Finally, the spices are up to your taste. You can add paprika, cumin, or even red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
Mix everything, and voila! Once chilled, this salad can be enjoyed at any time, make sure to keep it in an airtight container so you can enjoy it for longer.
Ham and Pea Pasta Salad [Recipe]
Ingredients
4 cups (512 g) cooked macaroni pasta
1 cup (128 g) thinly sliced celery
1 cup (128 g) diced onions
1 cup (128 g) diced ham
1 1/2 cup (192 g) frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 cup (32 g) mayonnaise
1/2 cup (64 g) prepared ranch dressing
1 tsp dried basil
dash of garlic powder
salt and pepper
Directions
- Get a large bowl and combine all the ingredients. Mix well.
- You can add more mayonnaise if necessary.
- You can also adjust the seasoning according to taste.
- Cover and chill for several hours.
- Enjoy!
