Bell Pepper White Bean Pasta Salad

Colorful and hearty, ham, vegetable and bean pasta salad.

Ingredients -

4 cups cooked Penne Pasta
3/4 cup 1/2 inch cubed Ham, about 5 ounces
1/2 cup 2 inch julienne-cut Red Bell Pepper
1/2 cup 2 inch julienne-cut Green Bell Pepper
1/4 cup grated Asiago or Parmesan Cheese
2 tablespoons diced Kalamata Olives
2 tablespoons chopped Fresh Parsley
1 (16 ounces) can Cannellini Beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoons Spicy Brown Mustard
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Preparation:

1. Combine pasta, ham, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, Parmesan cheese, Kalamata olives, fresh parsley, and cannellini beans.

2. In a small bowl, whisk red wine vinegar, spicy brown mustard, olive oil, and fresh ground black pepper.

3. Stir dressing into pasta.

4. Cover pasta and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Pasta Salad Making Tips -

Penne Pasta

Penne is a small pasta shape. Any small or medium salad style pasta shape will work well as an alternative to the penne pasta.

Pasta Salad Making Tips -

Kalamata Olives

Kalamata olives are found with the other olives in supermarkets and can be picked up in specialty food stores. They are floating in olive oil, and packaged in jars.