Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Name: Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Yield: 3-4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 Taylor Farms Dill Pickle Chopped Kit; 1/2 cup chopped kosher dill pickles; 1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes; 1 – 1 1/2 cup cooked pasta of choice (depending on size of pasta, larger noodles I’d say go toward 1 1/2, you preference though)

There are few foods more refreshing than a tangy pasta salad or a bite of a dill pickle. So we’ve combined them! If you’re a pickle fan, you can finally bring your pickle-appreciation to a side dish to share. By adding cooked and cooled pasta to our Dill Pickle Chopped Kit, plus some ready-to-burst cherry tomatoes and another helping of chopped dill pickles, you’ll have a satisfying celebration of dill and delicious. Bring this pasta salad recipe to your next picnic or potluck and enjoy something new on the table (or the checkered blanket).

Total TIME:
5 minutes

SERVINGS:
3-4

CREATED BY:
Honest Grub Honest Foodie

Ingredients

1 Taylor Farms Dill Pickle Chopped Kit
1/2 cup chopped kosher dill pickles
1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
1 – 1.5 cups cooked pasta of choice (if using larger noodles, lean toward 1.5 cups)

Directions

Cook your desired pasta and let cool for at least an hour. Drizzle with olive oil and stir while warm to make it easier to use when it’s cool.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients in the Dill Pickle Chopped Kit, except the dressing. Reserve the dressing.
Add in the chopped dill pickles, cherry tomatoes, and cooked pasta and combine. Pour Dressing on top, toss, and ENJOY!

Make this a Bento Box:
In our Bento box, we’ve included the Dill Pickle Pasta Salad, a zucchini-carrot muffin, raw apples, baby carrots, and basil hummus for dipping.

Bento Box Magic

Bento boxes are a charming, traditional Japanese way of packing a single-portion meal, typically consisting of rice, fish or meat, and vegetables. Meals in bento boxes are created to be visually appealing, nutritionally balanced, and ready to eat on the go—all attributes that we’re totally behind at Taylor Farms. (Our Snack Packs are like the modern Western equivalent of a bento box: a sampling of fresh, nutritious veggies, fresh fruit, maybe some nuts, cheese, and dip, all ready to eat on the go.)

Bento boxes date back to the Kamakura period in Japan (1185-1333) when they were used as simple packed meals for travelers and workers. Over time, the concept evolved and bento boxes became more elaborate and were used for popular events like hanami (flower viewing) and theater visits. Nowadays, you can find inspiring, artistic ideas for making themed bento boxes. Modern bento makers often let their creativity flow freely, using molds and cutters to shape food into fun and interesting designs you’d almost hate to eat! (Check out Just One Cookbook for a selection of traditional Japanese recipes and inspirations for making your own bento.)

Making Your Own Bento Box

Ready to make your own? Or maybe it’s time to swap out your kids’ Paw Patrol lunchbox with something a little more refined? Here’s how to make your own bento box.

The Container: Choose a bamboo or plastic bento box with compartments to keep different foods separate.
Preparation: Go with foods that can be enjoyed cold or at room temperature, such as raw veggies, fruit, nuts, this yummy pasta salad recipe, or pickled foods.
Balance: Aim for a balance of carbs, proteins, and vegetables.
Presentation: Use colorful ingredients, small portions, and creative arrangements to make the foods visually appealing.

Bento boxes not only provide a convenient meal solution but also reflect the Japanese cultural emphasis on aesthetics and mindfulness in meal preparation.

See all of our fresh Pasta Salad recipes.