Cold pasta with bresaola, arugula, and grana is a quick and easy summer main dish. Just like rice salads, pasta salads are very popular in summer for many reasons: they can be prepared in advance, they can be dressed with many different toppings, they are convenient dishes to bring to the beach, and most of all, they are tasty and easy to make.
The pasta salad with bresaola, arugula, and grana offers a classic combination of flavors that everyone always enjoys. Often, bresaola, dressed with arugula, grana, and lemon juice, is served as an appetizer at informal dinners and even at slightly more special occasions. Well, with the same ingredients, you can also dress an excellent main dish like this one!
This cold pasta should indeed, must be prepared a bit in advance, so the flavors can meld together. I assure you the result will not disappoint you!
Now let’s move on to the recipe and see together how to prepare this delicious cold pasta with bresaola, arugula, and grana, but first I’ll leave you with some other cold dish ideas that might inspire you when you don’t know what to cook!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Moderate
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
- Energy 225.37 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 33.66 (g) of which sugars 1.29 (g)
- Proteins 13.04 (g)
- Fat 5.16 (g) of which saturated 1.70 (g)of which unsaturated 1.09 (g)
- Fibers 0.88 (g)
- Sodium 325.80 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 100 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Preparing Cold Pasta with Bresaola, Arugula, and Grana
- 11.3 oz fusilli
- 8 slices bresaola
- 1.4 oz Grana Padano DOP
- 1 bunch arugula
- to taste extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- A few drops lemon juice (optional)
Tools for Preparing Cold Pasta with Bresaola, Arugula, and Grana
- Pot
- Cutting Board
- Bowl
- Knife
Steps for Preparing Cold Pasta with Bresaola, Arugula, and Grana
Let’s see together how to prepare this delicious pasta salad with bresaola, arugula, and grana.
Before starting, I recommend using a type of high-quality durum wheat pasta that holds its shape well during cooking. The quality of the pasta used, I assure you, significantly affects the final result.
Bring salted water to a boil in a pot and cook the fusilli. Drain them al dente and rinse under cold water for a few seconds to stop the cooking process.
Then place them in a large bowl and season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and some grated cheese. Mix to combine the ingredients.
Wash a bunch of arugula (leaving some aside to use later), pat it dry with a towel, and roughly chop it with a knife.
Also, cut the bresaola into thin strips.
Add both the arugula and bresaola to the pasta bowl and mix. Season with some black pepper and, if you like, also with a few drops of lemon juice.
Let your pasta salad with bresaola, arugula, and grana rest for about an hour to allow flavors to blend, and before serving, add more fresh chopped arugula and grana shavings. Drizzle with a bit more extra virgin olive oil and serve.
Notes
– When choosing arugula, use cultivated arugula (which you can easily find in bags at supermarkets) if you prefer a milder taste. If you prefer a stronger, more distinct flavor, I recommend buying bunches of arugula from fruit vendors: they have a slightly more bitter and “peppery” taste.
– Cold pasta with bresaola, arugula, and grana can be prepared in advance. Leave it at room temperature if you plan to consume it within a couple of hours; otherwise, store it in the fridge and take it out half an hour before eating.
– If you have leftovers, store them in a closed container in the fridge and consume within 24-48 hours.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can other types of pasta or rice be used?
Yes, if you don’t have fusilli, you can use any type of pasta, although I would prefer large ridged pasta like penne, rigatoni, tortiglioni, or half rigatoni. You can also use rice and prepare a rice salad. In this case, I recommend the ribe parboiled variety, perfect for cold dishes.
Can bresaola be substituted?
Sure, if you don’t like bresaola, you can also use cubed cooked or raw ham, speck, or sweet or smoked pancetta.
