Soul Food Southern Pasta with Italian Dressing

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Are you tired of bland pasta salad recipes? 

Here’s a light and flavorful version with a new twist!

Soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing is a beautiful summertime classic made with a zesty sauce, irresistible steamed shrimp, and delicious seasoning.

 

 

What barbecue is complete without a batch of pasta salad large enough for a crowd?

Spaghetti noodles are tossed to coat in Italian dressing and Italian seasoning. Ripe tomatoes, fresh cucumbers, and savory shrimp are added to make a satisfying side dish perfect for cookouts, picnics, and potlucks.

 

 

Why is it a soul food Southern pasta?

Because of the intense flavor! 

Wet and dry Italian dressings and flavorful steamed shrimp are used in a Black folks’ creative way. To make a savory soul food dish you’ve come to expect from your favorite African American gatherings.

 

Is there any reason to eat out when you can make gourmet soul food Southern cuisine at home? 

Soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing makes the perfect light lunch, summery brunch dish, or a nearly effortless dinner. It’s quick and easy and can be made a day ahead if desired.

 

 

Why shrimp pasta salad with Italian dressing?

Shrimp pasta salad with Italian dressing is a quick meal option and a great way to include healthy ingredients in your diet. 

The perfect low-calorie, instant meal. Contains no added salt, yet it’s a filling, wholesome meal.

Soul food Southern pasta is easy to make and can be served as a main dish or side. Serve with crackers or soft sweet bread. 

It’s an excellent recipe for those summertime BBQs, picnics, and potlucks. 

 

How do you make spaghetti pasta salad?

Watch the video and follow the instructions to make this soul food Southern easy pasta salad recipe.

 

 

Kitchen equipment

• Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (optional)

 

Shop my kitchenware!

The Pioneer Woman Instant Pot  |  The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls  |  Pyrex measuring glass  |  Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons  |  Amazon cutting board  |  Salad Supreme Seasoning  |  Anthropologie dish towel 1  |  Anthropologie similar dish towel 2  |  Anthropologie serving spoon set  |  Anthropologie similar serving bowl  |

 

 

Ingredients for the shrimp

• 12 oz. of jumbo shrimp, frozen or thawed, peeled and deveined
• ½ cup water
• ¼ teaspoon of avocado oil or cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper

 

 

Ingredients for Black folks’ soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing

• 8 oz. uncooked spaghetti noodles or angel hair pasta
• 2 quarts of water
• 1 cup of tomato, chopped
• 1 cup of cucumber, peeled and chopped
• ¼ teaspoon of olive oil
• 10 oz. of zesty Italian dressing
• 6 tablespoons of Salad Supreme Seasoning, or 1 packet of dry Italian dressing seasoning

 

 

Instructions for the shrimp

1. Remove the Instant Pot lid and turn on the sauté setting for 5 minutes. (Although you will not use all of this time. I like to have the extra minutes for the time it takes for the sauté to become active.)
2. With the lid off the pot, heat the water, avocado oil, and butter in the stainless-steel inner pot for up to 1 minute.
3. Add the shrimp, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Cancel the sauté setting and close the Instant Pot lid.
5. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 1 minute.
6. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 2 minutes.
7. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
8. Use a colander to drain the liquid from the cooked shrimp and set the shrimp aside to cool and add to the pasta salad later.

 

Instructions for Black folks’ soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing

1. Break the uncooked spaghetti in half.
2. Open the Instant Pot lid and add the water and spaghetti to the stainless-steel inner pot.
3. Add the olive oil, and then push the spaghetti pasta down to ensure it’s submerged in the water.
4. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
5. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes.
6. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable. 
7. Turn off the Instant Pot and stir the pasta to loosen any clumps.
8. Using a colander, drain the liquid from the pasta.
9. Then rinse the noodles in cold water and allow the excess water to drain.
10. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the Italian dressing and Italian dressing seasoning with the cooked spaghetti pasta.
11. Fold in the tomatoes, cucumber, and shrimp.
12. Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for an hour.
13. Serve soul food Southern pasta salad chilled, and enjoy!

 

 

What can you serve with cold spaghetti salad?

This soul food Southern pasta cold spaghetti recipe is an excellent change of pace from the usual hot pasta salad side dishes. It’s a lot more refreshing for summer days. 

Southern soul food favorite recipes

• Soul food burgers
• Soul food Southern fried chicken
• Corn on the cob
• Southern creamed corn
• Deviled eggs
• Southern homemade cornbread
• Black folks homemade apple pie

 

 

So how do you serve cold spaghetti salad? 

Ironically, cold spaghetti salad is usually enjoyed with a hot main dish!

 

 

What to serve with this pasta salad?

Wondering what to serve with this pasta salad?

This soul food Southern pasta recipe tastes good when served chilled! Before the salad is served, you can add optional toppings like green onion, red onion, bell pepper, black olives, or feta cheese.

 

What other cheese can you add to this?

Any cheese that’s your favorite! 

Parmesan cheese is an excellent topping for this soul food Southern pasta salad. I suppose shredded varieties like mozzarella or cheddar would taste good too!

 

Soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing FAQs

What should you put in pasta salad?

Here are key ingredients that you should include in your soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing:

• Noodles – (Use any noodles but if you serve a large group, then use uncooked spaghetti noodles or angel hair pasta since they blend with salads perfectly).
• Tomatoes – Slice whole or cherry tomatoes in half and add chopped cucumbers.
• Veggies – Peel and slice cucumbers into thin rounds, halved. Optionally, you could add broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, or peppers to get creative with any vegetable you like! Chopped tomatoes, green beans, shredded carrots, thinly sliced peppers, or any other vegetable in season.
• Dressing and seasonings – Use Italian dressing and dry seasoning or preferably Salad Supreme Seasoning.

 

 

• Shrimp – Use jumbo shrimp, either fresh or frozen. Peeled and deveined.

 

 

Pro tip: You can leave out the shrimp altogether for a vegetarian recipe. Or Italian sausage, grilled chicken, or imitation crab meat can be used instead of shrimp.

 

Where do you find the Salad Supreme Seasoning?

The Salad Supreme Seasoning is usually found on the same aisle as other seasonings or in your local grocery store’s salad dressing/condiment section.

 

What is creamy pasta salad?

Creamy pasta salad is another version of soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing. Instead, this pasta salad is made with a creamy Italian dressing coating elbow pasta, diced ham, cheese, and peas. 

 

 

Is macaroni salad the same as this soul food Southern pasta salad?

For African Americans, macaroni salad is a dish akin to cookout Black folks’ potato salad or soul food coleslaw. 

A Southern macaroni salad recipe is nothing like a Southern Italian pasta salad recipe!

 

 

What kind of pasta is best for pasta salad?

Can you use another pasta noodle other than spaghetti?

Angel hair pasta is ideal because it absorbs the flavors of other ingredients very readily. 

 

Should you rinse pasta for cold pasta salad?

To rinse or not to rinse?

• When working with pasta that will make a cold salad, it’s recommended to rinse the hot pasta with cold water and then drain. 

Rinsing will help lower the temperature of the pasta, which is ideal given that it will be served chilled and often alongside other cool ingredients. In addition, rinsing stops the cooking process immediately.

 

How do you keep the pasta from sticking together in pasta salad?

Rinsing pasta also removes the starchy coating that makes the pasta gummy and clumps together. You want a pasta salad to be free and loose!

• Pasta that’ll be served hot with a sauce should never be rinsed – only drained. 

The starchy film is crucial. It helps the sauce cling to get absorbed by the pasta.

 

How do you keep pasta salad moist?

The key to keeping pasta salad moist is the pasta itself. The pasta won’t grab onto the dressing if you don’t cook it enough. Instead, it’ll dry out and become rubbery. 

If you overcook the pasta, it’ll get soggy. Cook the pasta just right (al dente), and your pasta salad will stay perfectly moist.

 

 

What does al dente pasta mean?

Al dente describes pasta or rice cooked firm to the bite – the ideal consistency for pasta. 

Al dente pasta should be chewy and firm, holding its shape in whatever sauce. 

 

Could you use spiral zucchini instead of spaghetti to lower the carbs?

You bet! Spiralized zucchini is one of the tastiest ways to eat low-carb and still feel like you’re eating pasta. 

It works exceptionally well with recipes like this one, which has a salty, savory flavor thanks to the tomatoes and Italian seasonings. 

 

Can you use another pasta noodle other than spaghetti?

Of course, you can use any noodle you want! 

Linguine, vermicelli, Fettucine, bowtie pasta – or whatever pasta noodle you enjoy.

African Americans tend to make this pasta with spaghetti or angel hair. So it’s the most common way many people recognize this recipe. 

Other pasta varieties are just as good and will work just as well!

 

 

Can you make pasta salad the night before?

Can you make this pasta salad in advance? Or make cold pasta salad the night before?

This recipe is ideal for making the day before an event.

Making this Southern soul food pasta salad with Italian seasoning the night allows the flavors to mesh together, making it a little more “complete” and yummier! 

 

Does this Italian pasta salad recipe need to be refrigerated?

Yes, this pasta salad is best served after being refrigerated. 

 

How long does pasta salad last?

Properly stored pasta salad will maintain the best quality in the refrigerator for about 3 to 5 days. 

 

 

What is the best Italian dressing to use?

The great salad dressing debate! 

The simple truth is the best Italian dressing to use is always up to your personal taste!

 

What is Salad Supreme Seasoning?

It’s a seasoning blend by McCormick made with romano cheese, sesame and poppy seeds, garlic powder, paprika, and other spices. It works well with olive oil, mayonnaise, vinegar, and lemon juice dressing bases. 

Salad Supreme adds vibrant flavor and color to tossed salads, pasta salads, vegetables, and chicken. 

 

Where do you find the Salad Supreme Seasoning?

The Salad Supreme Seasoning is usually found on the same aisle as other seasonings or in your local grocery store’s salad dressing/condiment section.

 

What do you think about this recipe for soul food Southern pasta with Italian dressing?

Have you had it?

Would you make it? 

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