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Every weekend of summer is just another reason to celebrate, whether it's a holiday or not. Sure, the Fourth of July has passed, but that definitely doesn't mean BBQ and dinner party season is over. With half of July and all of August ahead of us, summer gatherings are still very much in full swing.
One of the best dishes to serve at a summer bash is pasta salad, and I recently learned an incredible trick for the best pasta salad ever. Chef Keegan McManus partnered with the BAND-AID Brand on its limited-edition Flexible Fabric Red, White & Blue adhesive bandages with a BBQ. At this event, he shared his 1:1 rule for achieving a pasta salad with the best texture, flavor, and color.
What Makes Chef Keegan McManus' 1:1 Rule for Pasta Salad So Good
At the BAND-AID Brand Red, White, and BBQ event, McManus said his trick for the best pasta salad is to have the same amount of toppings as pasta. Most people use way more pasta than toppings, but this is where those recipes fall short.
"That way every single bite is really full of flavor, colorful, there's nice texture," he explained. "And it just feels like a full meal honestly."
While McManus follows this rule for every pasta salad recipe, his famous and most popular one is a caprese recipe. To him, the biggest compliment about this recipe and trick is how the caprese pasta salad is always the first to go at private chef events and dinner parties.
He explained that this pasta salad recipe is so good because it can and should be prepped ahead of time. "The more time that your pasta salad has to sit in the fridge, the more those flavors really blend together; the pasta absorbs the delicious tomato juices, the dressings, the aromatics of any herbs or basil you add, and they just get more flavorful," he said.
McManus also explained that because we all eat with our eyes first, it's important for dishes to look beautiful. That is definitely the case with his caprese salad (I saw and tried it for myself) and any pasta salad he makes using his 1:1 rule. Because you can actually see a difference in the amount of toppings, it makes a pasta salad look even more spectacular.
How to Follow Chef Keegan McManus' 1:1 Rule for Pasta Salad
Just like the 1:1 rule's name suggests, McManus says that every ingredient in your salad (vegetables, pasta, cheese, meats, etc.) should all be in a 1:1 ratio. So if you're using a cup of cooked pasta, you should use a cup of every other ingredient.
He also says that everything should be cut into uniform pieces. You want to make sure that your guests are getting a bit of every ingredient with each forkful they scoop up.
McManus likes to use farfalle pasta in his recipes because the ridges help capture the dressing. He also said the shape feels nostalgic to him and reminds him of a summer BBQ when he was a kid. I have to agree; it definitely takes me back! But if you're looking for another fun shape, he recommends campanelle as well. Just make sure not to overcook the pasta and take it out of the boiling water once it reaches al dente.
More of Chef Keegan McManus' Pasta Salad Tricks
- Use warm pasta. Maybe a controversial take in the pasta salad world, but McManus does not like to rinse his pasta because he wants to keep some of that starchy flavor. He also likes to make the pasta salad when the noodles are still warm. He explained the warm pasta soaks up more of the flavors and also absorbs the dressing better to be even more flavorful.
- Use whatever you have on hand. You really can make a pasta salad with whatever you have in the fridge, but McManus says that using ingredients that go together in another dish normally means they are going to taste good together in a pasta salad. That's exactly why his caprese recipe works so well.
- Make sure to dress the pasta salad well. McManus says that everyone needs to make sure they are properly dressing their pasta with enough dressing to maximize the dish's flavor. One ingredient he loves to include in dressings is fresh lemon juice to help brighten the dish up so it always tastes fresh - even if you prep it the night before.
- Prep as much ahead of time. The host's mood really sets the tone for a dinner party. If you are stressed, your guests are going to feel it. McManus suggests prepping as many dishes as you can ahead of time. Pasta salad is the perfect dish to make ahead of time, as leaving it to marinate in the fridge is only going to make it taste better.
