Common Ingredients in pasta salad Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over a dozen popular pasta salad recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in pasta salad dishes is seashell pasta.

Onion, parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and parsley are also common ingredients in pasta salad recipes. Variations include:

• mayonnaise in place of parmesan cheese
• corn kernels in place of tomatoes

Salt is in 70% of pasta salad recipes and pepper, 80%.

The average pasta salad recipe has about 11.2 ingredients, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 15.

In terms of directions, pasta salad recipes have about 4.2 steps on average, ranging from 1 to 11 instructions.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Pasta Salad

For 1 pound seashell pasta (454 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single pasta salad recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with seashell pasta	Potential subsitutions
parmesan cheese	half a cup (44 g)	1.1 cup (94 g)	55%	mayonnaise
tomatoes	2 large (364 g)	2.3 large (423 g)	45%	corn kernels
black olives	6 ounce (170 g)	7 ounce (200 g)	36%
olive oil	three quarters of a cup (162 g)	1 cup (211 g)	36%	ranch salad dressing mix vegetable oil
garlic	3.9 clove (12 g)	5.7 clove (17 g)	36%
parsley	2 tablespoon (8 g)	11 tablespoon (42 g)	27%
green onions	0.57 cup (57 g)	0.8 cup (80 g)	27%	green bell pepper green pepper
balsamic vinegar	1 cup (255 g)	0.63 cup (159 g)	18%	wine vinegar
white sugar	3 tablespoon (38 g)	2.3 tablespoon (28 g)	18%

Ingredients by Average Weight in Pasta Salad

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in pasta salad recipes. This would be: 42% seashell pasta, 23% tomatoes, 11% olive oil, 6% onion, 5% black olives, 4% parmesan cheese, 3% green onions, 2% wine vinegar, 1% pepper, 1% white sugar and 1% parsley.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

pepper

Pepper is the most popular ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 80% of pasta salad recipes contain pepper.

Variations of pepper include:

• black pepper: 65% of recipes

For pasta salad recipes, pepper is frequently used with onion, tomatoes, salt, black olives and green pepper.

Potential substitutions for pepper in pasta salad:

• wine vinegar
• balsamic vinegar

Also, pepper is not often used with basil, bacon, corn kernels and vegetable oil.

black pepper

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is black pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 65% have black pepper.

Ground is a frequent preparation for black pepper in pasta salad dishes.

Black pepper is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of a quarter teaspoon.

In pasta salad recipes that contain black pepper, it is on average, 0% by weight.

For pasta salad recipes, black pepper is frequently used with salt, seashell pasta, garlic, olive oil and parmesan cheese. However, green pepper and bacon are almost never used together with black pepper in pasta salad dishes.

salt

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is salt. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 70% have salt.

Salt is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of half a teaspoon or 1 teaspoon.

In pasta salad recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

In recipes for pasta salad, salt is often used with black pepper, olive oil, garlic, parmesan cheese and seashell pasta. On the other hand, salt is almost never used with bacon.

seashell pasta

Seashell pasta is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 65% of pasta salad recipes contain seashell pasta.

Cooked and drained are frequent preparations for seashell pasta in pasta salad dishes.

Common quantities for seashell pasta in pasta salad dishes include 1 pound, 8 ounces or 12 ounces.

In pasta salad recipes that contain seashell pasta, it is on average, 24% by weight.

Black pepper, parmesan cheese, salt, tomatoes and garlic are commonly used together with seashell pasta in pasta salad dishes. Conversely, seashell pasta is not often used with corn kernels.

onion

Onion is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 50% of pasta salad recipes contain onion.

Variations of onion include:

• green onions: 29% of recipes

In recipes for pasta salad, onion is often used with salt, pepper, green pepper, tomatoes and olive oil.

Potential substitutions for onion in pasta salad:

• green onions
• corn kernels

Also, onion is not often used with ranch salad dressing mix, balsamic vinegar, basil, bacon, mayonnaise and vegetable oil.

green onions

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is green onions. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 25% have green onions.

Sliced is a frequent preparation for green onions in pasta salad dishes.

In pasta salad recipes that contain green onions, it is on average, 5% by weight.

Black pepper, seashell pasta, salt, white sugar and parsley are commonly used together with green onions in pasta salad dishes.

Potential substitutions for green onions in pasta salad:

• green bell pepper
• green pepper

Also, green onions is not often used with parmesan cheese, black olives, oregano, balsamic vinegar and basil.

parmesan cheese

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is parmesan cheese. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 45% have parmesan cheese.

Grated is a frequent preparation for parmesan cheese in pasta salad dishes.

Common quantities for parmesan cheese in pasta salad dishes include a quarter cup.

In pasta salad recipes that contain parmesan cheese, it is on average, 3% by weight.

Seashell pasta, salt, olive oil, garlic and black pepper are commonly used together with parmesan cheese in pasta salad dishes.

Potential substitutions for parmesan cheese in pasta salad:

• mayonnaise

Also, parmesan cheese is not often used with green onions, wine vinegar, white sugar, ranch salad dressing mix, bacon and vegetable oil.

olive oil

Olive oil is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 45% of pasta salad recipes contain olive oil.

Olive oil is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of half a cup or a third of a cup.

In pasta salad recipes that contain olive oil, it is on average, 9% by weight.

For pasta salad recipes, olive oil is frequently used with salt, garlic, black pepper, parmesan cheese and seashell pasta.

Potential substitutions for olive oil in pasta salad:

• ranch salad dressing mix
• vegetable oil

Also, olive oil is not often used with white sugar, green pepper, bacon and mayonnaise.

garlic

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is garlic. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 45% have garlic.

Pasta salad dishes often call for garlic to be minced and chopped.

Garlic is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of 2 cloves or 1 clove.

In pasta salad recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 0.6% by weight.

In recipes for pasta salad, garlic is often used with salt, olive oil, black pepper, parmesan cheese and seashell pasta. On the other hand, garlic is almost never used with white sugar, ranch salad dressing mix, green pepper, bacon and mayonnaise.

tomatoes

Tomatoes is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 40% of pasta salad recipes contain tomatoes.

Chopped and diced are frequent preparations for tomatoes in pasta salad dishes.

Common quantities for tomatoes in pasta salad dishes include 1 large.

In pasta salad recipes that contain tomatoes, it is on average, 21% by weight.

Seashell pasta, salt, black olives, parmesan cheese and pepper are commonly used together with tomatoes in pasta salad dishes.

Potential substitutions for tomatoes in pasta salad:

• corn kernels

Also, tomatoes is not often used with wine vinegar and vegetable oil.

parsley

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is parsley. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 35% have parsley.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for parsley in pasta salad dishes.

Parsley is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of 1 tablespoon.

In pasta salad recipes that contain parsley, it is on average, 1.1% by weight.

For pasta salad recipes, parsley is frequently used with black pepper, salt, parmesan cheese, olive oil and seashell pasta. However, white sugar, green pepper, bacon and vegetable oil are almost never used together with parsley in pasta salad dishes.

black olives

Black olives is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 25% of pasta salad recipes contain black olives.

Pasta salad dishes often call for black olives to be drained and sliced.

Black olives is often included in pasta salad dishes in amounts of 6 ounces.

In pasta salad recipes that contain black olives, it is on average, 8% by weight.

In recipes for pasta salad, black olives is often used with seashell pasta, tomatoes, salt, parmesan cheese and green pepper. On the other hand, black olives is almost never used with green onions, wine vinegar, basil, corn kernels and vegetable oil.

white sugar

White sugar is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 15% of pasta salad recipes contain white sugar.

In pasta salad recipes that contain white sugar, it is on average, 3% by weight.

For pasta salad recipes, white sugar is frequently used with seashell pasta, green onions, tomatoes, rice vinegar and oregano. However, parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, parsley, green bell pepper, wine vinegar, ranch salad dressing mix, balsamic vinegar, basil, corn kernels and mayonnaise are almost never used together with white sugar in pasta salad dishes.

oregano

Another popular ingredient in pasta salad is oregano. From the recipes we've sampled for pasta salad, over 15% have oregano.

In pasta salad recipes that contain oregano, it is on average, 0.4% by weight.

In recipes for pasta salad, oregano is often used with salt, black pepper, olive oil, onion and black olives.

Potential substitutions for oregano in pasta salad:

• basil

Also, oregano is not often used with green onions, ranch salad dressing mix, bacon, corn kernels, mayonnaise and vegetable oil.

wine vinegar

Wine vinegar is another common ingredient in pasta salad dishes. In fact, over 15% of pasta salad recipes contain wine vinegar.

In pasta salad recipes that contain wine vinegar, it is on average, 4% by weight.

Black pepper, garlic, salt, olive oil and green onions are commonly used together with wine vinegar in pasta salad dishes.

Potential substitutions for wine vinegar in pasta salad:

• balsamic vinegar

Also, wine vinegar is not often used with parmesan cheese, tomatoes, black olives, green bell pepper, white sugar, ranch salad dressing mix, basil, green pepper, bacon and mayonnaise.

Other pasta salad Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in pasta salad recipes include:

• green bell pepper - 15%
• ranch salad dressing mix - 10%
• balsamic vinegar - 10%
• basil - 10%
• green pepper - 10%
• bacon - 10%
• corn kernels - 10%
• mayonnaise - 10%
• vegetable oil - 10%

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