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BLT Italian Pasta Salad with Garlic and Basil and Creamy Dressing
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BLT Pasta Salad with Garlic and Basil

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Cuisine: American and Italian
Keyword: #italian #salad #bacon #lettuce #tomato #pasta salad #pasta
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 771kcal
Author: Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

  • 1 lb. 16-ounce bag of pasta -- farfalle, rotini, macaroni, or fusilli
  • 1 pound thick cut bacon fried crisp, and chopped into small pieces
  • 2 cups fresh Romaine lettuce chopped in 1" pieces
  • 2 cups Iceberg lettuce chopped into 1" pieces
  • 2 cup red onions chopped
  • 3 cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend 4 - 6 types of cheese in the blend
  • ¼ cup freshly chopped basil
  • ¼ cup freshly chopped Italian parsley
  • ¼ cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
  • Garnish: fresh cut herbs
  • For the Dressing
  • 1 packet dry Ranch dressing mix
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 large cloves of garlic minced
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • ¼ tsp. ground black pepper freshly cracked is best
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • a pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Boil water in a tall pot, filled about 2/3rds full.
  • When water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook for HALF of the time indicated on the package.
  • Take the pasta to the sink and drain the hot water completely with a colander. Run cold water over the hot pasta until the pasta becomes cold. Tap any extra water from the pasta. Set aside (place in the refrigerator is better).
  • Prepare the dressing by mixing all ingredients together. Chill in the fridge until time to serve.
  • In a wide frying pan, cook the bacon until nice and crispy (red-ish brown in color). Lay out each strip of bacon on paper towels when finished to remove grease. Allow to cool off. Cut into large chunks.
  • In a large, wide serving bowl, mix the lettuces, red onions, tomatoes, Italian cheese blend, basil, and Italian parsley.
  • Add the bacon. Add the pasta.
  • Add the dressing, about 1/2 cup first to determine if you want more. Then add the other 1/2 and gently mix so as to not break the pasta.
  • Garnish with sprigs of fresh basil and/or Italian parsley.
  • Mangia! ENJOY!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 771kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 34g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1663mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g