Creamy Pasta Salad with Ranch Dressing | Recipe by Lounging with Lenny

ranch dressing

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: sour cream

Greek yogurt reduces calories while maintaining creaminess

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lay bacon on a sheet pan with a rack and cook for 25 to 30 minutes until crispy.

Dice 1 medium garlic and puree it with a pinch of salt.

Puree 1/2 small shallot.

Chop 1/4 bunch of dill finely after removing it from the stems.

Chop 1/4 bunch of parsley finely after removing leaves from stems.

In a bowl, combine 4 ounces of parskin ricotta cheese, 3 ounces of plain non-fat yogurt, 4 ounces of buttermilk, 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce, and juice from 1/2 lemon.

Add 1/8 teaspoon of celery seeds, pureed garlic, shallot, dill, and parsley to the bowl.

Season the dressing with salt and white pepper and mix well.

Refrigerate the dressing for one hour.

Once the bacon is crispy, let it cool down.

Bring water to a boil in a large pot, season with 1 tablespoon of salt, and cook 8 ounces of medium shell pasta for 8 minutes or until al dente.

Transfer the cooked pasta to a sheet pan without rinsing it under cold water, then pour some vegetable oil over it and let it cool down.

Peel and remove seeds from 1 plum tomato, then dice it into medium cubes.

Take 1/2 red bell pepper, remove the ribs, and cut it into strips.

Dice 1/2 red onion and soak it in cold water with 1 teaspoon of white vinegar to sweeten it.

Dice 1 celery stalk into medium pieces.

Chop the cooled bacon on a separate cutting board.

In a large bowl, combine 12 ounces of cooked pasta, diced tomato, diced celery, red bell pepper, soaked onion, 5 ounces of green peas, and chopped bacon.

Add the homemade ranch dressing to the bowl and mix everything together.

Season with salt and white pepper and mix again.

Transfer the pasta salad to a serving plate and decorate with remaining bacon bits.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens