Pasta Salad with Fresh Green Beans
ham, toasted walnuts, dill weed, cayenne pepper, tossed with an oil and vinegar dressing

Recipe Type: pasta, salad, green beans, vegetable, ham, sausage

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 20 min
Serves 6

Ingredients:

8 ounces Rotini corkscrew pasta, cooked, drained
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup diced ham, or smoked turkey or smoked beef sausage
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, I use more
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Salt, to taste
Parsley sprig, garnish
3 cups green beans, cooked, cut 1-inch


Instruction:

Prepare Rotini corkscrew pasta according to package instructions; drain, rinse several times with cold running water and drain well. Put into a large bowl and set aside. Toast the walnuts under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the ham, scallions, parsley, dill weed and cayenne pepper to the bowl and mix well.

In a small bowl whisk together the olive oil and vinegar until emulsified. Pour over the salad tossing lightly; taste for seasoning, add more salt and additional cayenne if desired. When ready to serve, fold in green beans and serve immediately with parsley sprigs for garnish.

Wine recommendation: Pinot Gris; Chardonnay