Fare Report: Printemps Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is named after the French word for spring due to its addition of delicate mache rosettes. This sweet, nutty green with a succulent texture is a favorite among the French. The mache rosettes give this pasta salad a pop of bright green and add a chic touch that your dinner guests will appreciate.

Printemps pasta salad is a wonderful dish to celebrate the arrival of spring. I hope you give it a try soon.

Printemps Pasta Salad

1 (16 ounce) box farfalle pasta

1 sweet onion, sliced

2 tablespoons minced garlic

½ cup extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 cucumber, chopped

1 pint of cherry tomatoes (various colors), cut in half

1 large orange bell pepper, sliced in one inch pieces

3-4 cups fresh mache rosettes

½ teaspoon fine sea salt

¼ teaspoon granulated sugar

4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

Begin this recipe by caramelizing the sweet onion. Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a small skillet. Add the sliced onion and turn heat to medium-low. Sprinkle the granulated sugar over the sliced onion to kick-start the caramelization. Allow onions to cook until translucent and caramelized. Add the minced garlic the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Remove from heat and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once water begins to boil, add the pasta. Cook for about 10 minutes.

While the pasta cooks assemble the other ingredients in a large serving bowl. Add the cucumber, cherry tomatoes and bell pepper. Using a silicone spatula, scrape the caramelized onion, garlic and the extra virgin olive oil from the skillet into the mixture. Give that a nice toss with the spatula.

Once the pasta is done cooking, drain and allow to cool in a colander for about 10 minutes. Add the pasta to the large mixing bowl and mix well.

Now, add in the fresh mache rosettes. Drizzle the rest of the extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar into the mixing bowl. Sprinkle with salt and mix well.

A pinch more of salt and white balsamic vinegar can be added to taste. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!