Smoked Mozzarella and Penne Salad from Whole Foods

One of my favorite pasta salads comes from Whole Food Markets. The Smoked Mozzarella and Penne Salad is awesome. However, it is $9.99 a pound which adds up since pasta is not lightweight. This pasta salad is slightly spicy, tangy, with a creamy, smoky finish.

Luckily I found out that the recipe has been posted at multiple places and this one is from the Whole Foods Cookbook. This recipe successfully replicates the flavor. However the pasta salad is a little more watery than what is typically found in the store, so I recommend thoroughly draining the pasta and letting it dry out some before adding it to the sauce. 

Chill it in the refrigerator for an hour to let the flavors meld and for the salad to chill further.

Smoked Mozzarella and Penne Pasta Salad

Yield: 6-8 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

A recipe for the smoked mozzarella and penne pasta salad at Whole Foods.

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Ingredients

Dressing:

• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• salt & fresh ground pepper, to taste

Salad:

• ½ pound penne pasta
• 2 cups packed baby spinach, washed and stemmed
• 4 pieces jarred roasted red pepper, diced
• ½ pound smoked mozzarella cheese, diced

Instructions

1. Combine the Parmesan cheese, parsley, mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper with a hand mixer or in the bowl of food processor or in a blender until the dressing is smooth.
2. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain the pasta into a colander, run cold water over it or submerge it in ice water until chilled through, and drain well. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, spinach, roasted red peppers, and smoked mozzarella.

Notes

Refrigerate to help the flavors meld. It may also help dry out the sauce a little.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 326Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 537mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 13g