Boursin Pasta Salad with Cherries, Corn and Cucumber
It's pasta salad season!
A couple years ago my husband introduced me to Boursin cheese and it has been a stable of my cheese plates ever since. Boursin is a soft cheese, somewhat similar in texture to cream cheese, flavored with garlic and herbs. I found it in every grocery store in my area so I feel somewhat safe saying it's easy to find. Its creamy texture and outstanding flavor make it the perfect dressing base for pasta salad when combined with some greek yogurt, vinegar and olive oil.
While the cherries are non-traditional for pasta salad, they add a sweet pop of flavor that goes perfectly with the savory garlic and herb dressing. The cucumber adds a refreshing crunch as does the toasted almond slices.
This salad is delicious when enjoyed immediately after making but ideally 30 minutes - 1 hour after preparation. Since the dressing is cheese based as opposed to mayo based, it will not retain its initial creaminess as the cheese goes back to it's cream cheese texture after being refrigerated for a couple hours.
Boursin Pasta Salad with Cherries, Corn and Cucumber
Creamy pasta salad with boursin cheese, cherries, corn and cucumber
Serves: 6-8 as a side
- 8 ounces short cut dried pasta (I used rotini)
- 1 cup fresh cherry halves (I used Rainier)
- 1 cup chopped cucumber, 1/4 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 cups corn, cooked and cooled
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup almond slices, toasted
- 5.2 ounce package Boursin (garlic and fine herb)
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar (sub: apple cider vinegar)
- Salt and pepper, for seasoning
- Cook the pasta according to the box directions for al dente. Drain. Allow the pasta to cool - either run under cold water or wait until it cools. If waiting, drizzle olive oil over the pasta so it doesn't stick together
- Make the dressing: whisk together the Boursin, yogurt, vinegar, olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper
- Add the pasta, cherries, cucumber, corn, onion and almonds to a large bowl. Add the dressing and stir carefully to combine. Taste and add additional salt and pepper, if desired
