Three Bean and Broccoli Pasta Salad

"This is mom's recipe for a quick all-in-one lunch idea: it is quickly whipped up, lasts several days in the fridge, is hearty/filling, nutritious, and versatile. This recipe can have many variations depending on what you prefer. The main idea is: one pasta noodle, the canned 3 bean salad, some sort of vinaigrette (or and combination of several), and any extra veggies you want in your salad."
 
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photo by Caseylaine photo by Caseylaine
photo by Caseylaine
photo by Caseylaine photo by Caseylaine
Ready In:
20mins
Ingredients:
6
Serves:
6
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ingredients

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directions

  • Bring 3 qts water to boil.
  • While bringing water to a boil, set frozen broccoli pkg in microwave to defrost for approximately 6-7 minutes.
  • Open, drain, and rinse canned 3 bean salad in colander.
  • When water is boiling, add pasta> Boil pasta for 8-9 minutes to al dente.
  • As noodles are cooking, prepare the broccoli> Cut stems away from broccoli flowerettes> Cut flowerettes into bite-sized pieces> Use the stem portion as well if you prefer.
  • Place broccoli pieces and rinsed/drained bean salad in mixing bowl.
  • Once noodles are cooked, remove and strain in colander while running cold water over noodles to stop cooking, and cool down the pasta> With a sharp knife or kitchen scissors cut up pasta slightly (if using long noodles).
  • Once cooled and drained place pasta in mixing bowl with bean salad and broccoli.
  • In measuring cup pour dressing (s) of choice to 1/2 cup measure> Blend if using multiple dressings>*I use a combination of Newmans Light Balsamic Vineagrette and Kraft Fat Free Caeser Italian.
  • Pour dressing over salad and add fresh cracked pepper and salt to your liking>*i use about 1 1/2 tbs of salt to cut the sweetness of the bean salad.
  • Mix gently and well> Nice if chilled, but if time does not allow, it can be eaten immediately.
  • Some add-in ideas: diced cucumber, tomato, black olives, onion, chicken/ham, sunflower seeds.

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Reviews

  1. Thanks, Caseylaine, for a very adaptive and tasty salad. This one is so easy to make and modify to personal preferences. I basically eyeballed ingredients, using whole wheat spaghetti, fresh broccoli and Kraft Light Sicilian Roasted Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette. It's yummy--instead of reaching for that unhealthy snack while watching Judge Judy, I'll be eating this! I did NOT add any salt to cut sweetness--it did not seem necessary.
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Hello. I, like many of us, once aspired to be a chef..but later realized I wanted to keep it as my passion, instead of making it "work". Currently I live in Houston with my homecookin guinea pig, Walker. I work in recruiting by day, and enjoy many hobbies outside of work such as gardening, cooking, volunteer work, golf and enjoying the houston nightlife. My advice as a cook is don't be scared to go outside of the "norm" every once in a while, you just might find something you've been missing! I always try to shop by a list, but I also always leave room for one new ingredient. Stuff you see all the time and wonder what it's for or what it tastes like, particularly different fruits and veggies and sauces and marinades. Usually if you buy it, you can "google up" a recipe later on. I'm a frugal shopper and love finding "more bang for your buck" kind of recipes; but we also try to eat meats and produce that is free of hormones and chemicals. I freeze a lot so that we dont waste food, since there's only two of us, and I also will recycle last nights food into tonights.
 
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