Pasta Primavera Salad

My family loves ham all year long. I had to find a cool, summertime salad recipe to use up the leftovers, and I think this pasta primavera salad is it. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 30 mins
• Calories: 629 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ cup sour cream
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
• ½ pound fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 pound tri-color rotini pasta
• 2 tablespoons dry ranch dressing mix (such as Penzeys)
• 1 tablespoon dry chip and dip seasoning mix (such as Penzeys)
• 1 teaspoon dry Italian-style salad dressing mix (such as Penzeys)
• 1 small head romaine, torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 large cucumber, cut into 1/4-inch chunks
• 1 avocado, cut into bite-size pieces (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

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

Step 2

While pasta cooks, place a steamer insert into a saucepan and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to a boil. Add asparagus, cover, and steam until tender-crisp, 2 to 6 minutes. Drain pasta and asparagus and chill until ready to use, at least 10 minutes.

Step 3

Meanwhile, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, dip mix, and Italian dressing mix in a bowl.

Step 4

Assemble chilled rotini, asparagus, ham, romaine, cucumber, and avocado in a large bowl. Top with mayonnaise dressing mixture and toss. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.