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The Café is heading home today after a lovely week of vacation on the coast of South Carolina. We've loved every minute of this precious time with family............. though, if you peeked in on us at any given time, the word ............
.............. cacophony might just come to mind. Cacophony? Yup, it's defined as, "a mixture of sounds, as in a cacophony of horns during a traffic jam". Another definition describes it as, "what you'd hear if you gave musical instruments to a group of four-year olds and asked them to play one of Beethoven's symphonies". With five children, seven years and under, there's never a dull moment, always lots of entertainment, a healthy dose of drama and lots of pure, unadulterated noise!
The only problem with the word cacophony is that the dictionary says that the conglomeration of sounds that make it up are "discordant" or "harsh"............ Nope, not to this Grammy and Papa; this cacophony of talking, singing, crying, shrieking, laughing, etc. is music to our ears; maybe it's because we so clearly recall how quickly and elusively these early childhood years slip by.
Despite all the craziness and even on vacation, I enjoy cooking delicious meals for the family. I do try to keep them simple, fresh, light and easy to put together. This Pesto, Pepper and Sopressato Pasta Saladis one that can be prepared early in the day and brought to room temperature an hour or so before serving. Everyone loved it one sunny day this week for a picnic lunch on the beach and even the wee ones gobbled it up.
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Pesto, Pepper and Sopressato Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta*, cooked according to package directions and drained
- ⅓ cup pesto
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, or a bit more if the pesto is really thick
- 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut in ½-inch pieces
- ½ large bell pepper, diced small, I used golden, but any color bell pepper is fine
- 4 ounces Sopressata**, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- fresh herb leaves, for garnish if desired
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions or until al dente. Drain well and drizzle with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil. (This will prevent pasta from sticking together) Toss well to coat with oil and allow to cool to lukewarm.
- Combine pesto and olive oil and stir well with a small whisk or a fork. Set aside.
- Add all other ingredients to pasta and stir gently to distribute ingredients. Drizzle with the pesto/olive oil mixture, sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and stir again. Serve at room temperature. If making ahead, refrigerate until one hour before serving. Bring to room temperature and drizzle with a bit of extra virgin olive oil just before serving. Garnish with fresh herb leaves if desired.
Notes
* ~ I love to find fun shaped pasta. The one I used for this salad is called torchio (resembling little torches) gigli, orecchiette, farfalle, conchiglie or radiotori would also work wonderful. Feel free to use your own favorite.
** ~ Sopressato is an aged Italian salami which is available in many larger groceries in the deli section. I used the Boars Head brand which is very delicious and comes, prepackaged in a 9-ounce portion. It's about 1-inch in diameter and works well, sliced thin in this salad. You could also cube it or quarter the slices if the diameter is larger. It comes in "sweet" and "hot" varieties. We like the "sweet" but choose according to your palate.
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Hi Chris,
I just made this pasta salad for transporting for a Memorial Day outing. I had to taste it and oh my, it's wonderful and such simple ingredients. Thanks for sharing. You're always inspirational.
If I post it, I will be sure to give you credit. xo
Recently I seen Sopressato in the grocery store and wondered what I could do with it. Now I know, thank you.
I love everything about this salad, it has flavor, color, and texture perfect!
What a simply pretty salad! Loving all of the pretty color and the flavors sound amazing!
I so wish I liked pasta salads! I just like my pasta covered in tomato or creamy cheese sauce. Awful, I know...
This looks perfect to bring along to a picnic! Bookmarking it for that very reason. 🙂
this is such a confetti pasta dish...perfect for summers...hooked on this salad
🙂
What a salad!! I love the salami, and the pesto completes it. An ideal lunch!
I'm feeling all to closely just how quickly time flies. Seems just yesterday my kids were those little ones you described, yet today my son and I began the college application process. Just a year from now he will be heading off, and my world will be a bit lonely! I'm savoring every minute. But I think I'll savor it a little more with some of your salad. pinned and printed!!
Lovely recipe - this looks incredibly delish. Sopressato is truly tasty stuff - this is a great way to get the flavor in a nice healthy salad. Glad you had a terrific vacation.
Chris, sounds like you had a wonderful time with the grand-children and our family at the beach. You know your Pasta Salad with pesto dressing and sopressato (that I can buy at my very favorite Italian supermarket in Cologne) sounds like my kind of recipe for summer time. It is full of delicious and fresh flavors, easy dressing and it is so coloful - just perfect.
Have a lovely weekend - noch ein schönes Wochenende!
Thank you for another immediately usable salad recipe. It looks delicious. And, I appreciate the Sopressata tutorial. I am trying to become more acquainted with Italian meat delicacies by name. Whole Foods just special-ordered Mortadella for me and I am pleased. And, yes, I know it is very caloric. Five children under seven,. Cannot imagine but know it was fantastic for the two of you. I'm sure the Moms and Dads were thrilled with your home cooking.
Looks so yummy Chris!!! Love everything thats going on in this salad!!!
Monday, I will need to prepare a great lunch for my man and I as we are heading to a little road trip! I think this salad will be my choice!
Mmmmm my sort of salad. Glad you had a good holiday. Take care Diane
This pasta salad will make such a great, light Summer dinner!
Glad you had such a great time, it sounds awesome and this salad looks delicious. Super Pinworthy!
Oops, Sopressata
This salad is beautiful. I love the red, yellow, and orange peppers. I will have to try the sopressato. And I love love the pesto with the pasta.
When my guys were little, when I went to bed at night I could still hear the cacophony in my head. My ears would ring, even though they were fast asleep, but oh what sweetness.
This salad would be a pretty addition to a pot luck buffet.
I have all my ingredients ready and on the counter to make your smashed potatoes for this evening - can't wait to taste them.
The spoon almost reflects the pasta shapes:)
I would like someone to make that today..for me:)
Very nice pasta salad!!!
I like the spicy salami!!!!
East, west, home is the best 🙂
A very beautiful summer salad, Chris.
Wish you a relaxing and delicious weekend at home!
Angie
This salad is perfect, it's basically everything I love! And Sopressata, oh my, a favorite! Super yum - thanks for sharing!
I love pasta salads and they're so perfect for this time of year. They're filling and cold for those hot summer days but not so filling that they stuff you. Unless of course you just plain over eat. Nice recipe. Glad you had a nice trip.
Not only do I get great recipes at The Cafe, but a better vocabulary, too. Sopressato. Now I know.
Bet your enjoying the quiet and missing those darling kids, as well.
Fondly,
Glenda
Oh yum! I'm making this for my picky eater - she's going to LOVE it :))
Mary x
Your salad is gorgeous and I love how interesting the very finely diced yellow pepper looks! No doubt you had a great vaca:@)
I love this salad Chris! Look wonderful!
Looks yummy!
I am drooling-you always make these marvelous and beautiful dishes!
Pinning!
Jemma
I am so glad you explained what this is, because I have never heard of it. The whole dish looks wonderful, but just as wonderful are the spoon and bowl!!
Lovely, colorful pasta salad... A true complete meal in a bowl!
I'm making pesto every weekend, thanks to my basil plants. Your recipe sounds like something that needs to be on my table very soon. What a great combination, not to mention your mouthwatering photos. Thanks for the recipe. Pinned.
This looks like such a fresh summer salad. Thanks for sharing!
I am so glad you enjoyed your vacation! I love hearing about all of the kids! Your sopressato pasta salad looks incredible! Another one of your recipes to bookmark. I know my family would love it! And me too! 🙂
Fabulous summer salad, I love all the colors and that it's a meal in a bowl!