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German party pasta salad (Nudelsalat)
Creamy pasta salad with ham, peas, sweetcorn and gherkins for birthdays and school trips
In Germany a big bowl of Nudelsalat is the backbone of a Kindergeburtstag, a summer barbecue or a school outing: short pasta, ham, peas, sweetcorn and chopped gherkins bound in a mayonnaise and yoghurt dressing, made the evening before so the flavours settle. This version lightens the dressing with yoghurt and gherkin brine. It contains gluten, egg (mayonnaise) and milk. Chef's tip: dress the pasta while it is still slightly warm, then add a splash more dressing just before serving, because the pasta drinks it overnight.
- Total time
- 32 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz frozen peas
- 7 oz cooked hamdiced
- 5 ½ oz tinned sweetcorndrained
- 4 gherkinsdiced, plus 4 tbsp of their brine
- 1 red pepperdiced small
- 5 ½ oz mayonnaise
- 5 ½ oz plain yoghurt
- 1 tsp mild mustard
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tbsp chives (optional)snipped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Cook 14 oz short pasta (spirals or macaroni) in a large pan of boiling water until just tender, about 10 minutes. Add 5 ½ oz frozen peas for the last 2 minutes. Drain, rinse briefly under cold water and drain well; the pasta should be cool but not icy.
12 minStep 2: Whisk 5 ½ oz mayonnaise, 5 ½ oz plain yoghurt, 1 tsp mild mustard, ½ tsp salt and the gherkin brine from 4 gherkins into a smooth dressing.
Step 3: Toss the pasta and peas with 7 oz cooked ham, 5 ½ oz tinned sweetcorn, diced gherkins and 1 red pepper, then fold in three-quarters of the dressing. The common mistake is drowning it at once: keep a quarter back for later.
Step 4: Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight. Before serving, stir in the rest of the dressing and scatter with 1 tbsp chives.
120 minStep 5: Keep it cold and out of the sun at a party, and bring it in after 2 hours. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 17 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does german party pasta salad (Nudelsalat) take?
- About 32 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of tinned sweetcorn?
- Frozen or tinned sweetcorn, same weight.
- What can I use instead of red pepper?
- Any colour of bell pepper, same amount.
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Perfect for:Party & potluckPicnic & travelKids' birthday party