A fresh pasta salad can change the face of a meal, and this recipe is an easy-peasy one you can whip up in no time! This award-winning recipe by Chef Katie Button of Curate from North Carolina, Asheville, is just what you need for a healthy, delicious, crowd-pleasing salad. According to Chef Button, the key ingredient of this pasta salad is fresh summer ingredients. Bright red, juicy tomatoes, fresh green herbs along with the magic ingredients, Spanish tuna, and piparra peppers, transform the simple salad into a wholesome dinner.

Ingredients

● 1 ½ pounds tomatoes (1-inch chops)

● 10 piparra peppers

● Extra-virgin olive oil as per taste

● Sherry vinegar as per taste

● 2 minced garlic cloves

● 3 tablespoons salt

● 8 ounces of pasta of any type

● 3 hard-boiled eggs

● 1 white tuna in olive oil

● ½ cup black olives (pitted)

● 2 tablespoons each of fresh parsley and tarragon leaves

The Recipe

Step 1: Marination

To start off with, toss some tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, salt, and oil into a medium-sized bowl. Marinate in the fridge after plastic-wrapping for a minimum of one hour. The longer the tomatoes marinate, the tastier the salad will be. Overnight is the ideal sitting time for the tomatoes to be fully flavored.

Step 2: Cook the Pasta

Bring the pasta of your choice to a boil in a large cooking pot with a pinch of salt added. After ensuring that it’s thoroughly cooked, quickly drain it and run it under cold water to stop it from cooking further.

Step 3: Prep Eggs and Toss Everything Together

Begin by cutting boiled eggs into half lengthwise and half crosswise. Gently toss in the eggs, along with tuna, pepper, cooked pasta, tarragon, and parsley along with the tomato mixture. Season and drizzle vinegar, salt, and olive oil as per your taste.

Step 5: Plating

Transfer the ingredients of the salad bowl to a platter or bowl and garnish with tarragon and parsley before serving.

With all that is happening with Starbucks, it’s time we remember that summer is here again. And despite the ongoing battles, this season, the largest known coffee chain in America is prepared for their customers with something interesting. And, of course, they don’t disappoint. The coffee brand has introduced a brand new summer special flavor to their menu and called it the Chocolate Cream Cold Brew. Unlike other items that disappear after the end of the season, this flavor will be part of the permanent menu. This Starbucks drink is topped up with sweet and light cold foam that is chocolaty and creamy. It’s then sweetened up with some vanilla syrup. Yum!

Fond Summer Memories

Rosalyn Batingan is a member of the beverage development team at Starbucks. She said that the goal behind this drink was to help their customers reminiscence about their most cherished summer memories every time they take a sip. The combination of both coffee and heavy notes of delicious chocolate, as well as malt flavor present in the chocolate cream cold foam, are meant to remind people of the warm days of summer.

New Foods and Drinks This Summer

Starbucks will also be launching some new foods and reintroducing old ones. This could be rather exciting for fans of this coffee giant. Among the many delicious food items they offer, the lime-frosted coconut bar is one of the food items that will permanently make it back to their menu along with the Bacon, Sausage, and egg wrap. Unicorn cake pop will be making an appearance only for a short period. They’re also launching a series of colorful drinkware. In addition, the coffee chain is giving out points to the tune of 25 stars as a bonus for customers who will use their very own refillable coffee cup.