You've been tasked with bringing something to a picnic, but you don't want to bring macaroni salad or potato salad. Maybe you're worried that someone else will think of that, or you already know Aunt Shirley is going to be bringing her famous takes on both dishes. Still, you want something quick and easy you can bring.
This recipe is your saving grace. A Dijon pasta salad is a delicious option for any picnic, and stands out enough from macaroni salad and potato salad to make a separate impression. Many of the ingredients in this recipe are shared with macaroni salad, like mustard, mayo, and celery, but many others are not. Ingredients like cider vinegar, oil, bacon, and paprika are unique to this pasta salad.
Despite the many ingredients, this salad is very quick and easy to make. Do keep in mind that it needs to chill for at least one hour prior to serving, so plan your day accordingly when you decide to make this. Making it the morning of your picnic or the night before is your best bet.
Since this pasta salad contains mayo and egg, you'll want to take care to keep it cold. This can prove challenging on a particularly hot day! Ask the picnic host if there's any room in their fridge for your salad. If a fridge is not available, the salad will have to sit in a cooler with ice. If the salad is exposed to heat for longer than 20 minutes, discard it.
Dijon Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
1 lb. rotini, tricolor
2/3 cup oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 teaspoons mustard, Dijon
2/3 cup mayonnaise
2 large celery stalks, chopped
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
2 hard cooked eggs, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
Paprika
Directions:
Cook pasta in boiling water until just done, usually 10 to 12 minutes.
Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to stop the cooking process.
In a large bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, and mayonnaise.
Add the pasta, celery, bacon, eggs, scallion, salt, and paprika to the dressing and mix carefully.
Chill at least one hour before serving.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/rojoimages.