Asparagus Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

By Late2Serenity

Ingredients

• For the dressing:
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste (optional)
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• For the salad:
• 1 pound asparagus
• 2 1/2 cups uncooked pasta, such as penne or rotini
• 2/3 cup sliced red onions
• 1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
• 2/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, for serving

Preparation

Step 1

Make the dressing:
In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until combined. Set the dressing aside.

Make the pasta salad:
Remove the tough stems of the asparagus then cut each spear into 1-inch pieces.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, 10 to 11 minutes, then add the asparagus to the pot and cook it with pasta for 1 more minute. Drain the pasta and asparagus then rinse it with cold water.

Transfer the pasta and asparagus to a large bowl. Stir in the onions and tomatoes. Pour the dressing over the pasta, tossing to combine, then cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 3 hours and up to overnight. When ready to serve, stir in the Parmesan cheese and enjoy cold or at room temperature.