Last summer, I participated in the Summer Pastabilities recipe contest sponsored by Hodgson Mill, where my Southwestern Pasta Salad won second prize. This summer, I'm participating again, since I'm always up for a creative challenge in the kitchen.
When I was pondering ideas for pasta salad, of course I had to look to the tomato. I always chop them for pasta salads, but the typical Caprese pasta salad was sounding a little tired from the recipe index in my brain. Basil? Mozzarella? Time for something different.
When flipping through a cooking magazine, I came across a recipe for a Bloody Mary, that tomato-y drink spiked with vodka, often served at (or for!) brunch. The spicy, tangy drink could certainly translate to pasta salad, hence, this recipe was born.
A gruesome name for a really tasty pasta salad. Here's how you make it:
BLOODY MARY BOWTIE SALAD
serves 4-6Ingredients
- 10 oz. box of Hodgson Mill whole grain bowtie pasta
- 3 ribs of celery, sliced
- 1 cucumber, peeled and de-seeded, diced
- 2 plum tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped vidalia onion (alternately, you could shred it on a grater)
- 2 mozzarella cheese sticks, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- chopped celery leaves, for garnish
- The juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp Worcester sauce
- 1 small, ripe tomato, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp Tabasco or hot sauce (or more or less, to your liking)
- 1 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 1 tbsp horseradish
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp of black pepper (or more or less, to your liking)
- additional salt or celery salt, to your liking
In another bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing, adding the additional chopped tomato. The riper the better! This heavy purple one was nearly falling off the vine.
After you add it to the bowl, puree the dressing with a hand blender or in a food processor or blender to make the dressing. If you don't have these items, you could mash it by hand and run it through a sieve.
You'll get a nice, rich red dressing, which looks a lot like a Bloody Mary.
Pour this dressing over your bowtie mixture (maybe save a bit for a real Bloody Mary--just add the vodka to your glass), toss gently and chill for 30 minutes or until it's cold. Then add in the sliced mozzarella sticks.
Feel free to add a splash more hot sauce or Worcester sauce if you'd like a stronger, more pungent taste. Garnish with celery leaves and serve cold. Enjoy!
SWEEPSTAKES
From now until 08/09, enter to win the Summer Pastabilities Gift Pack Give-a-way sweeps from Hodgson Mill! You could win a $50 prize pack filled with quality Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat pasta, a copy of the Hodgson Mill Whole Grain Baking Book, and more.
COUPON
This summer you can also take $1 off any variety of Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat pasta! Coupon available at: http://bit.ly/PASTA2013
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WIN IT!
And for all of you lovely Katydid and Kid readers, Hodgson Mill is giving away $25 in their products. To enter, just leave a comment on this post about your favorite item in their online store or what you'd like to make with their pasta. Good luck!Disclosure: I received samples of Hodgson Mill products to facilitate this recipe, and I'm participating in a chance to win a prize in this contest.
I would like to try the Garlic & Basil Whole Wheat Couscous with Milled Flax Seed & Soy
ReplyDeleteMy favorite item would be Veggie Rotini Spirals (4 Natural Flavors). I would make a vegetable pasta salad with the rotinis, artichoke hearts, carrots, broccoli and olives.
ReplyDeletetwinkle at optonline dot net
I think my kids would like their Apples & More Muesli cereal.
ReplyDeletelkziegler[at]gmail[dot]com
My favorite item is the dried wild blueberries.
ReplyDeleteslrdowney at hotmail dot com
I would like the Veggie Rotini Spirals I would make Italian pasta salad furbywins@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThat looks fabulous! I love Hodgson Mills' flours for baking.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to try the Garlic and Basil CousCous! I'd add some tomatoes, zucchini, chives, and feta. Yum yum!
ReplyDeletecoriwestphal at msn dot com
I would love to make a pasta, cheese, tomato, and balsamic dish.
ReplyDeleteBLOODY MARY BOWTIE SALAD would be great to make with their pasta
ReplyDeletesibabe64 at ptd dot net
I like their whole wheat Egg Noodles.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to try their End of Summer Zucchini Cilantro with Whole Wheat Angel Hair Pasta!
ReplyDeleteheaven_1_@hotmail.com
I would like to try their pasta with my golash I make
ReplyDeletelmurley2000@yahoo.com
Buckwheat Pancake mix! I would make a pasta salad!
ReplyDeleteI would like to try their potato bread mix
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! I like both your entries, this year and entry a lot. So creative!
ReplyDelete**that was supposed to say "I like both your entries, this year and last year's entry a lot" -- lol.
ReplyDelete