Pasta Salad (with or without meat)

Overview:

What if I told you that having a colossal stylish celebrity lunch was possible in your eat-out kitchen itself ! This pasta-salad has amazing looks and is extremely easy to prepare. I bet if you had guests coming over they would be singing about your lunch everywhere they go!

Or, are you ready to pamper your beloved on his birthday? Then, this lunch along with a glass of wine and a bouquet of flowers will do the trick.. But we will go easy on a few calories this time.

Cooking time : 30-40 mins including pre-cooking preparations. Serves 7-8

Ingredients:

You will need :

• Pasta shells
• Fresh Corn about 300 grams (roughly from 3 kernels)
• 2-3 Red and Green Bell Peppers
• 3 Bundles of scallions
• Cherry tomatoes diced into halves if they are not very small.
• your choice of meat : (Cooked Shrimps, Baked Chicken or Fresh Lobster) : this is optional
• 1 cup of Mayonnaise
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Crushed Black Pepper 
• A bunch of Dill (chopped)
• Salt to taste

Recipe :

Boil together Pasta shells and fresh corn.

Sauce :  This sauce is particularly simple to make. Although its a bit more on calorie count but a pasta salad amount that large could feed a group of 7-8 people. So gross calorie intake remains unaltered per person. You can reduce the portions used for smaller meals.

1. Mix together Mayonnaise and sour cream. Stir well.

2. Add salt to taste.

3. Add the lemon juice. Acidity brings out the flavor of vegetables and pasta.

4. Add a teaspoon of crushed black pepper and mix well. Set aside.

Pasta : 

1. Drain pasta and corn into a large salad bowl.

2. Now add all the diced vegetables like bell peppers, scallions, cherry tomatoes. If you wanted you can add finely chopped lettuce too.

3. Toss well and add the Sauce that we made earlier.

4. Add your choice of meat and toss gently.

5. Now add a lump of finely chopped Dill and stir the whole salad together.

Serving/Presentation Instruction : 

Serve in salad bowls topped couple of dill tripods ! The salad will not be very cold or very warm if served immediately. In 15 mins the whole salad will eventually come to an even temperature. I also sprinkled some grated Parmesan cheese :)

Stay tuned for the Dessert to be served with it !! Its called "Creamy Raspberry Shots"