• Whether its a traditional mayonnaise dressed macaroni salad, or a more sophisticated mixture of artichokes and bow tie pasta, a pasta salad is a great accompaniment to a summer barbecue.All Recipes: Classic Macaroni Salad Food Network: Artichoke Pasta Salad This is truly a dish where your culinary creativity can shine! Starting with the basic framework of a box of dried pasta, a cup of salad dressing, and 3-5 cups of chopped vegetables, you can put your individual spin on this classic dish.All Recipes: Rainbow Pasta Salad II

• Dried pasta works better than fresh pasta.Slate: The Pasta Salad Manifesto (June 23, 2008) Even without that option, there are lots of choices when selecting the pasta you'll use as the basis for your salad.

1. Increase fiber by selecting a whole wheat pasta, rather than the traditional semolina based variety.Medicine.net: Mediterranean Pasta Salad
2. Add visual interest by choosing a mix of colors.All Recipes: Rainbow Pasta Salad II Colored pasta has a small amount of an ingredient like spinach (green), tomato (red) or squid ink (black).Chef Geir's Culinary Resources: Some Variations
3. Make sure the shape you select works with the salad.National Pasta Association: pasta Shapes Pastas with curves and ridges like shells, rigatoni or orechiette tend to pick up small additions like chopped scallions or bacon bits. Smooth pastas like elbows or farfalle are better work well with an oil and vinegar based dressing.

• For a simple salad, you can use any prepared salad dressing.Big Oven: Ultimate Pasta Salad If you have a few more minutes you can mix your own mayonnaise-based or oil and vinegar dressing.

• The vegetables you use are limited only by your imagination.All Recipes: Five Steps to Perfect Pasta Salad Onions and celery are basic choices. Red and green peppers add color and crunch.Mayo Clinic: Pasta Salad with Mixed Vegetables

• Nuts, sundried tomatoes, bacon bits and dried fruits can add interest to the salad. You can also add cheeses such as feta, parmesan or goat cheese.All Recipes: Five Steps to Perfect Pasta Salad

• Boil the pasta noodles according to package directions. Make sure you don't overcook the pasta. Drain the pasta immediately after cooking. If you're using an oil and vinegar based dressing, add some now, before the pasta cools. Otherwise, toss the pasta with 1 T of olive oil, and let cool. (The oil keeps the pasta from sticking together.)Living Without: Perfect Gluten-Free Pasta Salads

• If you'd like to mix your own dressing, here are two simple choices.

Optional Seasonings

• Whisk the ingredients together, adding seasonings as desired.
• 1/4 cup minced shallot
• 1 t Dijon mustard

• 1/2 t sugar

81/4 cup chopped fresh herbs