The 1-Ingredient Upgrade to Add to Pasta Salad—Trust Me On This

Oh, pasta salad. At least in my family, it’s a staple of a summer party or get together. And it’s just so easy to put together! But, I’m the first to admit that as much as I love a good pasta salad, it can sometimes be underwhelming. I love a good tried-and-true recipe, but when you eat it over and over, a change can be welcome.

And that’s how I discovered the one ingredient I will be putting into my pasta salads from here on out: curry powder.

How To Make Curry Pasta Salad

Yes, curry powder is the one ingredient that elevates those summer pasta salads. Adding this powder to your dressing creates a warm and earthy flavor profile that pairs well with all the veggies thrown into the dish. And the best part is the spice level is completely up to you. I recommend grabbing a more mild curry powder so as not to overwhelm the dish. Here’s the ingredients you’ll need: 

• Spiral Pasta: Of course, the pasta shape is completely up to you, but I prefer the classic spiral.
• Salt: Salt enhances the flavor. The amount you put in is up to you.
• Curry Powder: Any mild curry powder will do, homemade or store-bought . 
• Yogurt: I recommend a Greek-style yogurt to help add some creaminess to the dressing. 
• Mayonnaise: Pick your favorite mayo for this dish!  
• Lemon Juice: Citrus juice brightens things up.
• Some fresh produce: This is up to you, but we recommend adding apples, green onions, and carrots. 
• Pine nuts or almonds: To add a little bit of crunch to the dish. 

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain. Combine curry powder, salt, mayonnaise, yogurt, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Add cooked pasta and toss to coat. Mix in apple, raisins, green onion, carrots, and nuts. 

Tips for Making the Best Pasta Salad

1. Using a suitable pasta shape for your salad will help elevate everything in the dish. If your pasta salad has a lot of chunky ingredients, pick a shape that has a deep hollow like manicotti. If there’s finely chopped ingredients, pick a noodle shape with smaller nooks and crannies. 
2. Since pasta salads usually sit out longer than other pasta dishes, cooking your noodles to where they’re a little past al dente and a little firm will ensure your dish isn’t too mushy. Quickly rinsing the pasta under cold water after it’s done will help stop the cooking process as well. 
3. Adding a protein to your salad can help make it more fulfilling for the function. For this dish, we recommend tofu or grilled chicken. 
4. Make sure to chill your pasta salad before serving! Especially on those hot summer days, this gives the dish more time to meld the flavors together. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.