Description
Creamy dill pickle pasta salad brings tangy zest to summer gatherings with its irresistible blend of crisp pickles and smooth dressing. Cool comfort awaits when you dive into this classic potluck favorite that promises delightful flavor in every refreshing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rotini or elbow pasta
Vegetables:
- 1 cup dill pickles, diced
- ½ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup diced celery
Cheese and Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a generously salted water basin to a rolling boil and immerse pasta, cooking until perfectly tender. Carefully drain and thoroughly rinse under cold cascade, ensuring complete temperature reduction. Allow pasta to rest and cool completely.
- Craft a creamy emulsion by vigorously blending mayonnaise, tangy sour cream, vibrant pickle juice, zesty Dijon mustard, aromatic garlic powder, and fragrant dill. Calibrate seasoning with salt and pepper, creating a balanced flavor profile. Modulate pickle juice quantity for heightened tanginess if desired.
- Select a spacious mixing vessel and unite cooled pasta with crisp diced pickles, sharp red onion, crunchy celery, and sharp cheddar cheese. Generously drench the mixture with prepared dressing, meticulously tossing until every morsel is luxuriously coated.
- Seal the pasta ensemble and nestle in refrigerator’s cool embrace for a minimum of sixty minutes, permitting flavors to harmonize and intensify. Prior to presentation, conduct a final taste assessment and fine-tune seasonings. Embellish with delicate fresh dill sprigs for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Customize the pickle intensity by experimenting with different pickle varieties like garlic dills or bread-and-butter pickles for unique flavor profiles.
- Swap mayo with Greek yogurt or vegan mayonnaise to create lighter or plant-based alternatives that maintain creamy texture.
- Consider adding protein like diced rotisserie chicken or crispy bacon bits to transform this side dish into a complete meal with extra nutritional value.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time and store separately to maintain crisp vegetable textures, preventing soggy salad syndrome and preserving maximum freshness before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 25mg