Goat Cheese and Pasta Salad Recipe

This is a wonderful spring and summer recipe that can be used as a main course or as a side dish with an entree.

Prep time 15 min; cooking time 12 - 15 min; serves 6-8 as a main dish and 12-18 as a side dish

Fresh Goat Cheese  at Amazon

Ingredients

1 16oz package of shell or spiral pasta
2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 package (8oz) of crumbled or cubed fresh goat cheese
15 pitted and chopped Kalamata olives
6-8 chopped anchovy fillets (optional)

4 Tbsp of capers if not using the anchovy fillets

10 cleaned cherry tomatoes halved

Dressing

1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp of white wine vinegar
2 medium chopped garlic cloves
1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil
salt and black pepper to taste

Prep and Cooking

1) Mix dressing ingredients together in a glass container and keep refrigerated

2) Cook pasta as directed on package or until al dente. Drain well and then toss with 2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and let cool.

3) Transfer pasta to a large bowl then add cheese, olives, tomatoes and anchovies
or capers. Add the dressing and mix well. Cover and chill until serving time.

4) Garnish with basil before serving.

Wine paring: Serve with a Sancerre

You may want to try out this goat cheese recipe also:


http://aroundtheworldcheese.blogspot.com/2010/04/goat-cheese-with-orange-and-fennel.html