Italian Pasta & Bean Salad Recipe

Italian Pasta & Bean Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
Salad
12 ounces tri-color spiral pasta
1 (12 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped (see below to roast your own)
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (3 7/8 ounce) can sliced black olives
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained (great northern)
feta cheese, for topping (optional)
Garlic Vinaigrette
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped parsley
3/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon black pepper
2-4 cloves chopped garlic

Preparation Instructions:
Cook pasta according to directions; drain. Rinse with cold water. Prepare vinaigrette while pasta is cooking. Stir all vinaigrette ingredients together in large bowl. To Roast Pepper Take 1 large red bell pepper, roast under broiler or on barbecue rotating frequently until skin is black. Place warm pepper in sealed zip lock bag for 5 minutes. Peel skin off pepper while it is still hot. Seed and chop pepper. Stir pasta, pepper, canned ingredients and onion into vinaigrette. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill and serve. Top with feta cheese if desired. Enjoy!

Photo credit: Margaret Johnson