TUSCAN CHICKEN PASTA SALAD
PERFECT for potlucks, BBQ’s and church socials.
SALAD
16 ounces bowtie pasta (or favorite style), cooked al dente and COLD rinsed
1 (7-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained well
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 1/2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
1 SMALL red bell pepper, diced small
1 SMALL can sliced olives, OPTIONAL
1 SMALL jar artichoke hearts, chopped
1 cup BABY spinach, torn
1 cup romaine lettuce, torn
¼ cup FRESH chopped basil
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- In a large bowl toss together prepared pasta, drained sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, chopped red onion, chicken pieces, diced red bell pepper, sliced olives, torn spinach, basil, and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
DRESSING
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons white wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon FRESH, FINELY chopped oregano
1 tablespoon FRESH, FINELY chopped basil
1-2 cloves FINELY minced garlic
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, white wine, sugar, oregano, basil, minced garlic, sea salt and black pepper to taste.
ASSEMBLY
- Drizzle the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until coated in the dressing.
- Serve immediately.
NOTE: If I’m not serving it all at once, I don’t add the spinach. Instead I spoon the the pasta salad over torn spinach when I do serve it and let each person do their own tossing.