Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Tender shell pasta with crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, and everything bagel seasoning in a creamy dressing

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz small shell pasta
02 - 1 tsp salt for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups cucumber, diced (about 1 large English cucumber)
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

→ Dressing

06 - ½ cup sour cream
07 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
08 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
09 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - ½ tsp salt
12 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ Seasoning

13 - 1½ tbsp everything bagel seasoning

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook shell pasta in large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - Whisk sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper in large mixing bowl until smooth.
03 - Add cooled pasta, diced cucumber, green onions, and fresh dill to dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over salad and fold until distributed throughout.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Refrigerate minimum 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor development.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The everything bagel seasoning creates an irresistible crunch that keeps people coming back for seconds
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent much longer on it
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta thoroughly with cold water is nonnegotiable or it will keep cooking and get mushy
  • The salad needs those 30 minutes of chilling time for the flavors to really develop
03 -
  • Cut your cucumber slightly larger than you think you should because they shrink as they sit in the dressing
  • Double the everything bagel seasoning if you are serving this to serious garlic and onion lovers
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