Picnic Pasta and Smoked Sausage Salad


Perfect as a picnic side dish or a light meal.

Ingredients

  • 14 ounces smoked pre-cooked sausage vinaigrette dressing * (or use 1/2 cup prepared vinaigrette dressing)
  • 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled and mashed
  • 8 ounces uncooked penne pasta (2¼ cups)
  • 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
  • 1 cup finely chopped green onion (with green tops)
  • 2 large medium red ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots (1 medium carrot)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, julienned
  • Additional fresh basil for garnish

Directions

  1. Bring pan with 2 to 3 inches of water to a boil. Turn heat off and add sausage. Immediately cover pan and let sausage stand 15 minutes. Remove sausage to a plate and let cool in the refrigerator.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare vinaigrette dressing by mixing dry mustard, salt, pepper and vinegar together in a small bowl. Slowly whip in olive oil to form an emulsion.
  3. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Place in large bowl and toss with ¼ cup vinaigrette dressing.
  4. When cool, slice sausage into thin ¼-inch slices. Remove garlic clove from vinaigrette dressing.
  5. Add sausage, peas, onion, tomatoes, carrots and remaining vinaigrette to the pasta. Sprinkle top with cheese.