California Spaghetti Salad

by

Weight Watchers California Spaghetti Salad is a famous pasta salad recipe known for its vibrant color and fresh flavors. This tasty salad combines the flavors of California with Italian pasta. It is great for anyone seeking a nutrient-rich, light, refreshing dish. This salad is an excellent choice for a quick and simple dinner because it contains a variety of bright vegetables and whole-grain pasta. Additionally, you can alter this recipe to fit your taste buds by adding cheese, proteins, and vegetables. This Weight Watchers California Spaghetti Salad will delight your appetite whether you like traditional Italian flavors or prefer a modern twist. Its portion sizes and ingredients are also Weight Watchers friendly. This salad contains a lot of healthy and wholesome nutrients like dietary fiber, proteins, carbs, and fats. Try it today and savor a delightful salad.

STATS

  • Course: Side dish, Salad
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Weight Watchers
  • Total Time: Three hours and Fifteen minutes
  • Preparation Time: Fifteen minutes
  • Refrigerate Time: Three hours

EQUIPMENT

  • Large pot
  • Fine strainer
  • One dish
  • A sharp knife
  • One bowl

INGREDIENTS

  • Thin spaghetti 1 pound
  • Chopped cherry tomatoes 1 pint
  • Cucumber 1
  • Diced Red bell pepper 1
  • Half chopped red onion
  • Black olives 1 can

For the dressing

  • Italian salad dressing 1 bottle, approx 16 ounces
  • Low-fat shredded Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup
  • Sesame seeds 1 tbsp
  • Paprika 1 tsp
  • Celery seed half a teaspoon
  • Garlic powder 1/4 tsp

INGREDIENT NOTES

Spaghetti:

  • I used linguine spaghetti. Before boiling, break the spaghetti into pieces that are one inch in length.

Cucumber:

  • It provides a soothing effect to the salad.

Cheese:

  • Use low-fat grated cheesy for a cheesy and umami flavor.

Paprika:

  • It enhances the color of the dressing and is ideal for pasta salad.

Celery seed:

  • These seeds are a package of different flavors that help to balance the salad dressing.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place the raw spaghetti in a shallow and deep pot.
  2. Fill the pot with one to two drops of cooking oil and water.
  3. Now, shift this pot to a burner.
  4. Simmer it on a moderate flame for thirteen to seventeen minutes.
  5. After that, shift it to a strainer and wash it with normal water.
  6. Cut the red onion, bell pepper, cucumber, and tomatoes into fine pieces with a knife.
  7. Now, add chopped vegetables and olives to a dish. Set aside.

Preparation of the salad dressing

  1. Add garlic powder, celery seed, paprika, sesame seeds, grated parmesan cheese, and Italian salad dressing in a bowl.
  2. Stir all items to create a smooth salad dressing.
  3. The delightful dressing is prepared.

Assembling

  1. Now, drizzle the paprika mixture (dressing) over the chopped veggies and cooked spaghetti.
  2. Mix well and place it into a fridge for three hours.
  3. The yummy Weight Watchers California Spaghetti Salad is ready.

VARIATIONS

Vegetables:

  • Try this tasty salad with different vegetables to make it more vibrant and delicious.

Pasta:

  • Use various kinds of pasta such as Farfalle or Rotini.

Protein:

  • Incorporate different variety of items such as hard-boiled eggs, pork tenderloin, chicken, shrimp, and chickpeas.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

  • Serve the salad with shrimp skewers, grilled fish, salmon fillets, or chicken steak.
  • Pair the salad with roasted vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus.
  • Enjoy it with veggie burgers.
  • Serve the spaghetti salad with whole-grain crackers or crostini.
  • Veggie sticks or chicken meatballs also pair well with this dish.
  • Enjoy the salad with gazpacho or tomato soup.

TIPS

Fresh Items:

  • Use fresh and good-quality vegetables for a better taste.

Spaghetti:

  • Choose whole grain or whole wheat spaghetti.

Cheese:

  • Use a variety of cheeses such as Feta, Mozzarella, or Parmesan.

Vegetables:

  • Grill or roasted vegetables for an added smoky touch.

Flavors:

  • Experiment with different herbs, vinegar, and spices.

Chill the salad:

  • Place the salad bowl in the fridge for forty to sixty minutes for the best flavor.

STORAGE INFORMATION

Fridge:

  • Preserve the spaghetti salad in a closed vessel and refrigerate it for four to seven days.

Freezer:

  • It is recommended to freeze the spaghetti salad due to the usage of spaghetti and fresh vegetables.

FAQs

What kind of vegetables can I use?

  • This salad recipe is basically made with red bell pepper, red onion, cherry tomato, and cucumber. You can change the salad items by incorporating different vibrant vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, or zucchini.

Can I use low-fat Italian dressing?

  • You can use low-fat Italian dressing in this recipe. You need to balance the amount of fats and calories while making this salad.

What kind of Italian dressing is ideal for spaghetti salad?

  • Any kind of Italian dressing will work well. It is healthier to use a light or fat-free dressing.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION/SERVING:

Serving amount 1 cup
Total quantity 12 people servings
Total Calories 260 kcal
Carbohydrates 35 g
Protein 7 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugar 5 g
Total Fat 11 g
Sodium 735 mg
Iron 1 mg

Total Weight Watchers points per serving of this recipe is 4 (four).