Graduation Pasta Salad

We served this at our twin daughters' graduation open house. Since that time, it is our most requested pasta salad. My daughters will make batches of this to take back to college to share with their friends. Scale back the salt and MSG if it suits your tastes or needs, but in this recipe the amounts listed blend in very nicely.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 13 mins
• Total Time: 33 mins
• Calories: 453 Calories

Ingredients

• ¾ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup chopped green onions
• ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper
• 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 (16 ounce) package tri-color rotini pasta
• 3 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 (5 ounce) jar sliced pimento-stuffed green olives
• 2 ½ tablespoons canola oil
• 2 ½ tablespoons seasoned salt (such as LAWRY'S®)
• 1 ¼ teaspoons flavor enhancer (such as Accent®)
• 2 cucumbers, seeded and diced
• 1 (3 ounce) can chopped black olives

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini pasta at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and rinse; transfer to a large bowl.

Step 2

Whisk lemon juice and canola oil together in a small bowl. Stir in mayonnaise, seasoned salt, and flavor enhancer. Pour over pasta and toss to coat.

Step 3

Refrigerate pasta mixture, tossing occasionally, until flavors combine, 8 hours to overnight.

Step 4

Bring pasta mixture to room temperature, about 1 hour. Stir in cucumbers, tomatoes, green olives, black olives, green bell pepper, and green onions; toss to distribute evenly.