“I love a pasta salad and this is a really tasty one,” says chef Gino D’Acampo.
“I must admit, it came about just before we were off to Sardinia for the summer; the night before, I threw everything we had left over in the fridge or kitchen cupboards into it (which explains the apple and onions) and the outcome was delicious.
“That’s what I love about pasta salads: anything goes and you can be as creative as you like. This is perfect for lunch on the go, it’s filling and so versatile.”
Insalata semplice di pasta con pollo, prosciutto e pesto rosso
Ingredients:
(Serves 4-6)
400g dried fusilli pasta
150g broccoli florets
100g green beans, trimmed and halved
5tbsp good-quality mayonnaise
3tbsp good-quality shop-bought red pesto
1 large red onion, peeled and finely sliced
1 large red apple, cored, cut into 1cm chunks
8 basil leaves, torn in half
150g cold chicken breast, cut into 1cm chunks
150g thick slice of ham, cut into 1cm chunks
5 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
4tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. Fill a medium saucepan with water, add one tablespoon of salt and bring to the boil over a high heat. Add the pasta and cook for two minutes less than instructed on the packet, giving you a very al dente bite, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat, drain in a large colander and rinse under cold water to stop it cooking. Leave to drain in the sink while you prepare the vegetables.
2. Fill the same saucepan with water and one tablespoon of salt and again bring to the boil over a high heat. Add the broccoli and boil for one minute. Add the beans and boil for a further two minutes. Meanwhile, pour the drained pasta into a large bowl.
3. Remove the broccoli and beans from the heat and drain in the same colander you used to drain the pasta. Rinse under cold water and leave to drain in the sink.
4. Place the mayonnaise, pesto, red onion, apple, basil, chicken, ham and half a teaspoon of pepper into the bowl with the pasta. Sprinkle in one teaspoon of salt and mix well with a wooden spoon. Stir in the cooled broccoli and beans.
5. Place the pasta salad on a large serving platter. Sprinkle over the spring onions and drizzle over the extra virgin olive oil. Serve immediately, or place in the fridge until needed. Please remember always to serve this at room temperature, to appreciate the flavours of each ingredient.
Gino’s Italy: Like Mamma Used To Make by Gino D’Acampo is published by Bloomsbury Publishing
