Reviewed: Apr. 5, 2012

This is very good! I kinda just used what I had on hand, so I omitted the cauliflower, used regular tomatoes, a little dried basil and ditalini pasta. This was a nice change from the regular pasta/macaroni salads. Great flavor! I would make ths again, for sure! Thanks for sharing. :)

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Reviewer:

Christina

Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Reviewed: Feb. 21, 2011

I'm disappointed to have to say I didn't really like this at all. I had high hopes for it but just found it rather bland even with all the interesting ingredients. I read the modifications other members made and some of them look like they would have made a difference. I doubt I will try it again though.

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10 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

Hillary

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Reviewed: Dec. 21, 2010

I made this pasta twice this summer. I add a TON more garlic and basil since we love that flavor. This can be a bit time consuming the first few times making it but it is so delicious it is worth it. My bf's family loved it!!

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12 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

MissM.

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Reviewed: Aug. 23, 2010

I made this salad by the recipe and found it to be a little to tart. Think I will leave out the sweet peppers and the blue cheese next time to see if it agrees with my taste better

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21 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

will

Cooking Level: Beginning

Living In: Brunswick, Georgia, USA

Reviewed: Aug. 3, 2010

Awesome good. An interesting and creative combination of ingredients you wouldn't necessarily think of putting together that resulted in a different and delicious pasta salad - one that's sure to be gobbled up and talked about at whatever occasion it's served. I made minor changes just to suit my own tastes - I didn't saute either the garlic or basil, just minced them fine and added as is. I also liked tunatwist's idea of subbing black olives for the cauliflower because it seemed a better match and after making this and tasting it I think it was a good choice both for taste and for the punch of color. I only made a small portion of this as Hubs won't eat blue cheese but it was so subtle he probably wouldn't have even known it was there. Most important, what I vigorously agree with tunatwist on is that to double the dressing as a couple of other reviewers suggested would totally throw off the perfect and subtle balance of flavors the submitter achieved with her proportions of ingredients and would most certainly result in the dreaded dressing overkill. Yes, pasta absorbs liquid but rather than add more dressing (because you're replacing a lot more than just the moisture that way) simply add a little milk, cream or half-and-half to make it nice and creamy again. Hubs really should have tried this - he didn't know what he was missing!

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18 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

naples34102

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Living In: Mequon, Wisconsin, USA

Reviewed: Jul. 30, 2010

When I mixed the dressing ingredients and did the taste test thing, I thought I had truly messed up in my choice of a potluck dish. I seriously struggled with how I was going to place my dish without anyone else noticing. After several hours in the fridge--separate from the pasta--the dressing took on a whole new life...an indescribable, delicious, religious experience. There is not a chance I will EVER make pasta salad any other way as this recipe is simply a masterpiece. I did sub black olives for the cauli. and spicy mustard (as in a brand spiked with tabasco) for the honey mustard and cayenne...not because I am slick, but because that's all I had on hand. I do have to disagree with others' suggestion in doubling the dressing, which I also did. I began by adding the original amount specified, then added a bit more and could immediately tell it was starting to become too heavy and way too much of a good thing; i.e. too much mayo in egg salad. I was so glad I erred to the side of caution. This recipe is a perfect and delicate balance of flavors exactly as written.

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Reviewer:

tunatwist

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Living In: Austin, Texas, USA

Reviewed: Jul. 6, 2010

turned out bland.

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11 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

Galila

Reviewed: May 3, 2010

DELICIOUS describes this recipe! I made it for the 1st time for my mom's birthday party 2 days ago and it was a big hit.(I made 5x the recipe though because we had a lot of guests). Many people asked where I had bought it and were surprised when I told them I had made it. (I hardly ever cook so I know they were blown away that I pulled off something that tasted so good!) I left out the cauliflower and only put 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes per recipe (this is for our own personal taste). I also doubled the garlic and the dressing as others suggested. I refrigerated the dressing and pasta seperately.An hour before party, I mixed them together so pasta wouldn't absorb dressing as others commented. Believe me, this recipe is worth the effort.

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15 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

ggdeleon

Reviewed: Mar. 30, 2010

This is one of my favorites. If I am short on time I will skip sautéing the garlic and basil. Just use a little oil on the pasta so it doesn’t stick and add a bit of basil. I will also skip the cauliflower if I don’t have it and it is still great!!! Make the extra dressing, it is so good you will want to add a little more. It was in the TOH magazine as part of a 4th of July menu which would explain the name. I wish they would rename it because it is a great recipe that might get more attention under a different name. Try it!!

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Reviewer:

norahS

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Reviewed: Dec. 7, 2009

i just made this for a potluck im having tomorrow, and so far so good! i followed the recipe exact and it tastes great. I did make extra dressing just in case i need it tomorrow..but if i dont use it, i have great dipping sauce! Really good flavors.

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10 users found this review helpful