Broccoli Apple Pasta Bowl with Chopped Bacon (No Cook)

This week just seemed so long with endless work that I'm really looking forward to a lazy and much more relaxed weekend. And the weather being sunny and beautiful. it's just another excuse for us to hit the beach. Isn't there something about the initial spring weekends, the lingering nip in the air and beautiful sunshine outside, just makes me feel lazy but at the same time....or maybe it's just me.

Since, it's also a beginning of lot of party season, I wanted to share a recipe, almost no cook (except cooking the pasta) "Broccoli Apple Pasta Bowl with Chopped Bacon". The mix of broccoli, apple, turnips gives it a great crunch and adding peanuts, bacon, cranberries adds to the taste, making it more filling and delicious. It's also one of those recipes that you can enjoy making with kids (because of no cooking involved) and this gets done in 10 minutes.

Broccoli Apple Pasta Bowl with Chopped Bacon

I'm using rigatoni pasta that have been chopped into small bite size pieces and ranch dressing as that's light in taste and blends well with any vegetable or fruit. But you can use any pasta and dressing.

This recipe can be made a day before and can be kept in fridge or to make it extremely crunchy, just keep the ingredients ready seperately in containers and add everything together just before serving. Just serve chilled and they can be carried easily in air-tight container for picnics or bbq's.

Broccoli Apple Pasta Bowl with Chopped Bacon

Broccoli Apple Pasta Bowl with Chopped Bacon

Serves: 4 People

Serving Suggestion: Serve Hot with favorite Dip / Sauce

Tools:

Deep Large Bowl  – For mixing all the ingredients

Serving Dish

Ingredients:

2 Cups Rigatoni Pasta – Cooked (I’ve chopped the pasta into small rings after cooking)

1 Cup Fresh Broccoli - Shredded

1 Cup Green Apple - Shredded

½ Cup Red Turnip - Shredded

¼ Cup Parmesan Cheese – Shredded

½ Cup Ranch Dressing – I’m using fat-free ranch (You can use any dressing as per choice)

1 Cup Turkey Bacon – Cooked and Chopped into small bits (OPTIONAL)

¼ Cup Dried Cranberry - Chopped into small bits (OPTIONAL)

¼ Cup Roasted Peanuts – Chopped into small bits (OPTIONAL)

Seasoning:

¼  Tsp Black Pepper Powder

1 Tsp Salt

Method: 

• In a large bowl, add broccoli, apple, turnip, cranberry and mix evenly.
• Now add dressing, bacon, salt, pepper and mix everything together.
• Add Pasta and mix all the ingredients.
• Now add cheese, peanuts and mix lightly.
• Transfer to individual bowl or serving dish and decorate with chopped bacon and cheese
• Serve Cold.