Creamy pasta salad

[LeeLee]

My favourite salads involve white pasta smothered in mayonnaise. Here's one that's virtually fat free, and counts as a Healthy B (or 6 syns for the whole lot) on Slimming World.

35g wholemeal pasta, slightly overcooked
4 medium sized mushrooms, sliced
1 garlic clove, finely grated
Fry-Light
100g Lake District Cheese Company Quark (must be that brand)
Salt & pepper

Boil the pasta and drain it, reserving a bit of the water. Cool it in fresh cold water. Gently fry the mushrooms and garlic in Fry-Light, until soft. Chill the mushrooms. Stir the mushrooms and quark into the drained pasta, adding a splash of the reserved water if it's too thick. Season and serve.

 

[AlisonM]

Sounds good LeeLee. Here's my pasta salad. Serves four.

Salad leaves of your choice
One large handful of wholegrain pasta per person, cooked (shells or fusili work best).
1 large chicken breast skinned and cut into bite sized pieces
A large courgette sliced about quarter of an inch thick
A couple of shallots, chopped
Ditto tomatoes
Some fry light, olive oil or light vegetable oil for frying
2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
1/4 teacup light olive oil
1/4 teacup balsamic or sherry vinegar

First make the dressing. Using the vinegar and oil, add one tablespoon of Dijon mustard, a little salt and pepper and stir/shake well.

Coat the chicken pieces in part of the dressing and add the rest of the mustard. Heat some oil in a large frying pan and brown the coated chicken well, once it's cooked through, remove the pieces to a plate and fry off the courgette in the juices till the slices are browned but still firm. Now stir the pasta around in the cooking juices too.

When you're ready to serve, combine all the ingredients in a salad bowl and mix well. It's best to add the salad dressing at the table as the pasta will absorb all the flavour otherwise. You can serve it with the pasta and chicken still warm or have it cold as you choose.

 

[LeeLee]

Sounds yummy Alison. It's something I might make for when non-dieters come round. Olive oil and I have a love-love relationship... I love it, and it loves my waistline so it stays round for a cuddle!

 

[AlisonM]

Sounds yummy Alison. It's something I might make for when non-dieters come round. Olive oil and I have a love-love relationship... I love it, and it loves my waistline so it stays round for a cuddle!

You could use a good quality vegetable oil instead.