It’s Olympic days and in honor of America, Great Britain or France (really any country with those colors in their flag), I’ve made a great dish to serve up during your watch parties. I just love pasta salad and although blueberries may be a surprising addition, they are quite delightful!
So toss up this simple dish, cheer for your team and enjoy the Olympics.
If your team is not red, white and blue take this opportunity to make up your own pasta dish to honor your homeland.
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Red, White and Blue Pasta Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Celebrate the Olympics with this vibrant Red, White, and Blue Pasta Salad, featuring orecchiette pasta, fresh blueberries, and juicy tomatoes, perfect for any patriotic gathering.
Ingredients
- 1/2 (16 oz) bag orecchiette pasta
- 1 (4 oz) carton blueberries, rinsed
- 1 cup (240 ml) mini plum tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh basil, chopped
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) diced red onion
- 1/2 tsp crushed garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
Instructions
- Cook the orecchiette pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool, then place in a large bowl.
- Once the pasta is cool, add the blueberries, sliced tomatoes, and chopped basil to the bowl with the pasta.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, diced red onion, crushed garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- Feel free to adjust the quantities of ingredients based on your taste preferences.
- This salad can be made a few hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
- If you prefer a more tangy flavor, add more lemon juice or a splash of vinegar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 0
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do blueberries really work in a pasta salad?
I know blueberries are a surprising addition, but I find them quite delightful. Their mild sweetness balances the lemon juice, crushed garlic, and red onion in the dressing, and they provide the “blue” in the patriotic color scheme alongside the red tomatoes and white orecchiette.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes — make this salad a few hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator. I also call for chilling it for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Can I use a different pasta shape?
I use orecchiette (small cup-shaped pasta) because its concave shape holds the dressing and catches the blueberries. Any small pasta shape — farfalle, penne, or rotini — will work, though orecchiette best suits the salad’s delicate components.
