Summer Picnic Fusilli: Sun-drenched pasta perfection.:

The Best Picnic Food

I love a good picnic. The blanket on the grass. The sun on your face. You need food that travels well. This pasta salad is my favorite for that. It stays fresh and tasty for hours.

I first made this for my grandson’s baseball game. The other parents asked for the recipe. I still laugh at that. It makes me feel proud. This dish brings people together. That is a wonderful thing. What is your favorite food to bring to a picnic?

A Splash of Color

Look at all those colorful vegetables. The red tomatoes. The orange and yellow peppers. The green cucumber. It’s like a summer rainbow in a bowl. Eating colorful food is good for you.

Each color gives your body different vitamins. That is why this matters. It’s a secret way to stay healthy. Doesn’t that bowl look happy? *Fun fact: The bell pepper is actually a fruit, not a vegetable!* I always think that is funny.

The Secret is in the Spice

Do not skip the spice blend. It is the magic dust for this pasta. It has sesame seeds and a little cayenne. It makes the flavors pop. I keep a jar of it in my cupboard.

One time, I forgot to add it. The salad tasted fine, but not great. It was missing its sparkle. That is why this matters. Small details make a big difference. Have you ever forgotten one ingredient? Did it change the whole dish?

Making it Your Own

This recipe is like a friend. It is happy to see you. You can change it to what you like. Do not have pepper jack? Use cheddar. Do not eat meat? Leave the salami out.

Cooking should be fun, not scary. My granddaughter adds black olives to hers. I think that is a great idea. It is your kitchen. You are the boss. What would you add to make it yours?

The Waiting is the Hard Part

After you mix everything, it must chill. I know, it is hard to wait. The fridge does important work. It lets all the flavors get to know each other. They become best friends.

I try to make it the night before. The next day, it tastes even better. The pasta soaks up the dressing. It is worth the wait. Trust your kitchen grandma on this one.

Ingredients:

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
water	6 quarts
salt	1 tablespoon
rotini	8 ounces (about 2 ½ cups pasta)
firm small cherry tomatoes	1 cup	cut in half (peeled or unpeeled)
English cucumber	1 cup	chopped into 1-inch slices
red or yellow bell pepper	1	chopped
orange bell pepper	1	chopped
sweet onion	¼ cup	chopped
pepper jack cheese	1½ cups	cubed in to 1-inch pieces
sliced salami or pepperoni	4 ounces	optional
spice blend	2 tablespoons	or recipe below
zesty Italian dressing	8 ounces (1 cup)
salt and pepper		to taste
Chopped parsley		optional garnish
Parmesan cheese (or Romano cheese)	3 tablespoons	Spice Blend ingredient
salt	1½ teaspoons	Spice Blend ingredient
sesame seeds	2 teaspoons	Spice Blend ingredient
paprika	1½ teaspoons	Spice Blend ingredient
garlic powder	¾ teaspoon	Spice Blend ingredient
poppy seeds	½ teaspoon	Spice Blend ingredient
celery seeds	¼ teaspoon	Spice Blend ingredient
cayenne pepper	⅛ teaspoon	Spice Blend ingredient

Summer Picnic Fusilli: Sun-drenched pasta perfection.

Hello, my dear! Come sit with me. I want to tell you about my favorite picnic pasta. It reminds me of sunny days at the park with my grandkids. We would spread out a big checkered blanket. The smell of fresh grass was everywhere. This pasta salad is perfect for those days. It’s cool, colorful, and so easy to make. Doesn’t that sound lovely?

Let’s get our ingredients ready. Chop all those bright vegetables. I love the red and orange bell peppers. They look like little pieces of sunshine. Cube the cheese and slice the salami if you’re using it. (A hard-learned tip: rinse your pasta with cold water right after draining. This stops it from getting mushy. I learned that the hard way one very sticky summer day!) Now, let’s make some magic.

Step 1: Get your biggest pot. Fill it with water and bring it to a boil. When it’s bubbling and rolling, add the salt. Then, pour in your rotini pasta. I still love the sound it makes. It’s like a soft rain.

Step 2: Cook the pasta just like the box says for “al dente.” That means it will have a little bite to it. Nobody likes soggy pasta! While it cooks, put all your chopped veggies and cheese in a big bowl. This is the fun, colorful part.

Step 3: Drain the pasta in a colander. Then rinse it with cold water right away. This shocks the pasta and cools it down. Now, add the cool pasta to your bowl of veggies. Toss in the salami too, if you like. Do you prefer your pasta salad with or without meat? Share below!

Step 4: If you made my special spice blend, shake it over everything. It has a little kick from the cayenne. Then, pour the zesty Italian dressing all over. Give it a really good stir. Make sure every piece gets a little love.

Step 5: This is the most important step. Cover the bowl and put it in the fridge. Let it chill for a few hours, or even overnight. The flavors need time to dance together. Doesn’t that smell amazing? I can never wait to taste it.

Cook Time: 7min
Total Time: 22mins
Yield: 9 servings
Category: Lunch, Picnic

Let’s Mix It Up!

This recipe is like a good friend. It’s happy to change with you. Feel like trying something new? Here are some fun ideas I’ve tried with my family.

The Garden Party: Leave out the meat. Add a can of rinsed chickpeas instead. It’s so filling and fresh.

The Spicy Fiesta: Use spicy salami and pepper jack cheese. Add a chopped jalapeño for a real kick! My grandson loves this one.

The Summer Sweetness: In the fall, try chopped apples and walnuts. Use a creamy poppy seed dressing. It tastes like a new season.
Which one would you try first? Comment below!

Serving Your Masterpiece

Now, how should we eat this wonderful dish? I have a few ideas. Serve it in a big, colorful bowl. It just makes everyone smile. You can scoop it onto lettuce leaves for a lighter meal. It looks so pretty that way.

For a perfect picnic, bring some crusty bread for dipping. A bowl of juicy olives on the side is nice, too. To drink, I love a cold glass of lemonade. It’s the classic choice. For the grown-ups, a crisp glass of white wine is lovely. Which would you choose tonight?

Keeping Your Picnic Pasta Perfect

This salad is a great make-ahead friend. It gets even better in the fridge overnight. The flavors get to know each other and become best friends.

You can keep it in a sealed container for up to four days. I do not recommend freezing this one. The vegetables will get sad and watery when they thaw.

I once brought this to a church potluck. It was gone in minutes. I had to tell everyone my secret was making it the night before.

Batch cooking saves your busy days. A ready meal means less stress for you. This matters because you deserve a break.

Have you ever tried storing it this way? Share below!

Simple Fixes for Common Salad Troubles

Is your pasta salad too dry? Just add a little more dressing. A splash can bring it right back to life.

I remember when my grandson made it. He forgot to rinse the pasta. The noodles stuck together in one big clump.

Rinsing with cold water stops the cooking. This keeps your pasta from getting mushy. Your salad will have the perfect texture.

If it tastes a bit bland, add a pinch more salt. This helps all the other flavors pop. Fixing small problems builds your cooking confidence.

Which of these problems have you run into before?

Your Picnic Pasta Questions Answered

Q: Can I make this gluten-free?

A: Yes! Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta. It will work just the same.

Q: How far ahead can I make it?

A: You can make it one or two days ahead. It is perfect for planning.

Q: What if I do not have pepper jack cheese?

A: Use cheddar or mozzarella instead. You can use what you love.

Q: Can I double the recipe for a big crowd?

A: Of course! Just use a very big bowl to mix it all.

Q: Is the spice blend really needed?

A: It is optional but so good. It gives the salad a special zing.

Fun fact: The word “fusilli” comes from the Italian word for “little spindles”.

Which tip will you try first?

A Note From My Kitchen to Yours

I hope this recipe brings you joy. It holds many happy summer memories for me. I love sharing these stories with you.

I would be so happy to see your creation. It makes my day to see your family enjoying food.

Have you tried this recipe? Tag us on Pinterest!

Happy cooking!

—Lena Morales.