Party Pasta Salad

A bodacious bow-tie pasta salad with dried cherries, carrots, cucumber and green onions in an herbed, lemon and red wine vinaigrette.

Recipe Ingredients:

8 ounces bow-tie pasta (3 cups)
3/4 cup dried tart cherries
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
1 teaspoons dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Cooking Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well. In a large bowl, combine pasta, cherries, carrots, cucumber and green onions; mix gently.
2. Combine vinegar, oil, lemon juice, mustard, basil, oregano, thyme and pepperin a small bowl; mix well. Pour over pasta mixture; mix gently. Refrigerate, covered, at least 2 hours, or overnight. Mix gently before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe provided courtesy of the Cherry Marketing Institute.