Girlie Pasta Salad

Or maybe all pasta salads are girlie! Ha! One of my favorite Birmingham restaurants is Chez Lulu. The next time you're there, check out this fabulous little French cafe! The last time I went, I ordered the pasta of the day.  It was an unexpected blend of flavors that were delicious together.  Figs, carrots, almonds, cilantro and a white crumbled cheese gave the dish a memorable and unique taste.  Check out Chez Lulu here: www.chezlulu.us/about_chez_lulu.

With the Chez Lulu pasta in mind, I created this dish.  I'm always a fan of the sweet and savory and the unusual blending of flavors.  I also believe that food should be colorful.  The ingredients in this pasta provide plenty of vibrant color.  I think it would be perfect for a girls' night, spa day or Saturday  picnic.

Girlie Pasta Salad

Recipe:

2/3  box of Penne Pasta

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 clove Garlic, minced

3-4 slices of Pancetta or Bacon

1 Tbsp Cracked Red Pepper

1 bunch Fresh Kale, stems removed and chopped

1 cup Shredded Carrots

1 cup Feta Cheese

1 cup Sliced Grapes

1 cup Sliced Almonds (toasted)

1/2 cup Garlic Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Method:

1.  Cook pasta by the instructions on the box, strain and set aside.

2.  Heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add the garlic, pancetta and cracked red pepper.  Cook, stirring, for about 5 minutes.

3.  Add the kale and stir-fry until it has reached your desired tenderness.  Remove from heat.

4.  In a decorative bowl, combine the pasta with the kale mixture and add the remaining ingedients.

5.  Stir to combine.

6.  Serve warm or cold, topped with more cracked red pepper and/or honey drizzle.

Garlic Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup Olive Oil

1 Garlic Clove, minced

a splash of Red Wine Vinegar

1 tsp White Pepper

1 tsp Honey

1 tsp Dijon Mustard

*Whisk together all ingredients until well blended.

This recipe turned out quite tasty!  The grapes balance out the saltiness of the feta cheese, the carrots and almonds add a crunchy texture and the cracked red pepper gives the dish a kick of spiciness.  It is great warm or cold.  Also, if you make it the day before and store in the fridge overnight, the flavors meld beautifully!  I hope you feel inspired to try this recipe.  Let me know how it goes! -1CC