Parmesan Zucchini Pasta Salad

​I made the most delicious pasta salad this afternoon, I wanted to share right away, so you could make it for your weekend!  We are going to have a working holiday weekend, so I wanted to prepare something that would stay delicious all weekend that we could eat with stuff we will be making on the grill as well as grab and go sandwich lunches that we will be eating while we finish building our new chicken coop and change it out with the one we are using now.

​We have so many zucchini, I decided to center the salad around them.  I love zucchini because the flesh is firm and it stays that way, even when bathed in dressing for a few days.  When this pasta salad was done and I tasted it, I was delighted at how it turned out.
It is so flavorful, and I bet it will be even more tasty after it marinades in the dressing over night!

​Pasta Salad Ingredients:

• 2 cups uncooked spiral pasta
• 1 large zucchini, sliced fairly thin and each round cut in half
• 1 small onion, chopped small
• 1 cup of mozzarella cubes, 1/2 inch
• 1/2 cup red pepper chopped medium
• 1/4 cup radishes, chopped small
• 1/2 cup fresh button mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
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Make sure to chill the pasta thoroughly before adding the vegetables

​Dressing Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (can use spicy brown mustard)
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Pinches of salt and pepper to taste 

Whisk together and let set at least one hour before using.
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Variations

This pasta salad can be made with any vegetables that you like.  I chose these because we like them and I had them on hand.  Other vegetables that would also be good in the salad would be:

• carrots
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• pea pods
• tomatoes
• green peppers
• black or green olives

​You can also use other kinds of cheese, like cheddar or pepper jack.
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This salad will stay good in the refrigerator all weekend, so you will have a go-to side for quick meals you want to make on the fly.  It is also delicious served with ribs, which are a staple in our house on Labor Day!  Enjoy!

Jade    :)
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