Cucumber BLT Pasta Salad

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Once May comes around, it feels like it is finally time for weekends spent outside with good food and the classic barbecues. Our family has always loves barbecues outside in the nice weather and one of my favorite sides that our mom has always made is pasta salad. She's always gone light on the dressing, with still lots of flavor snuck in!

A summer, BLT twist on the classic

This pasta salad is inspired by the one our mother usually makes but with a few delicious add ons mixed on. Of course, cherry tomatoes were a must and one for sure way to sneak some bacon in is to make this pasta salad a summer, BLT version to the classic. Along with the romaine lettuce, we also mixed in petite peas (the petite size really does make them better) and some fresh cucumbers!

You will first start with putting a pot of water on the stove to boil. While waiting for the water to boil (which at times especially when starving, can really feel like an eternity), you can prep all the ingredients that you will mix in as well as the dressing for the pasta.

This pasta salad is anything but lacking in summer ingredients and all mixed together it truly is the perfect twist to a pasta salad with still our favorite classics.

  • apple wood smoked bacon- The B in BLT of course! This is honestly my absolute favorite and bacon mixed in is truly the perfect addition to this recipe. I highly recommend going with an apple wood smoked bacon when picking out your bacon (the slight smokey flavor pairs perfectly with a summer barbecue).
  • romaine lettuce- the most classic, and my personal favorite kind of lettuce.
  • cherry tomatoes- the perfect size and especially delicious this time of year!
  • cucumbers- the most refreshing veggie to throw in.
  • peas- I highly recommend using petite peas, the mini size really is the best.

A quick and easy dressing!

Once all of your ingredients that will be mixed in are prepped, it's time to make the dressing. It is very simple and does just the trick for this refreshing pasta salad. Mix mayo, white vinegar (I know it is strong but just trust me it does just the trick), light olive oil, and dried basil. Once all mixed together and nice and creamy, add salt and pepper to taste.

Once pasta is done cooking, rinse with cold water to cool. Once it is at a chilled temperature, coat with dressing and mix in bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and peas. Serve chilled and enjoy with a hot dog or hamburger... or we would ofcourse support going with bot as well!

Cucumber BLT Pasta Salad

The spring time pasta salad you need- a light dressing, apple wood smoked bacon, romain lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and petite peas!

Author:
Samantha

Ingredients

  • 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup cucumber, chopped
  • 4 slices apple wood smoked bacon, chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tsp white vinegar
  • 2 tsp light olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp dried basil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pound gemelli pasta
  • 1/2 cup petite peas, cooked

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil for gemelli.
  2. While waiting for water to boil, chop lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. Microwave bacon until crispy. Once done cooking, chop bacon.
  3. Combine mayonnaise, white vinegar, and light olive oil, and dried basil in a small bowl for the dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix to combine.
  4. Once water is boiling, cook pasta for approximately 12 minutes.
  5. Once water is done cooking, drain and rinse with cold water to cool pasta. In a large bowl, add pasta and dressing and mix to coat pasta in the dressing. Add bacon, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and peas to bowl and stir to mix and combine. Serve chilled.

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