Creamy Ensalada de Coditos Recipe [ Best Pasta Salad]

If you want to make more Spanish salad recipes, but you aren’t the biggest fan of vegetables, then we have the perfect salad for you.

We are talking about the ensalada de coditos, a Spanish pasta salad where the elbows pasta is the main star.

Keep scrolling down this article to learn how to prepare the ensalada de coditos, plus some helpful tips for storing, serving, and possible substitutions to the ingredients.

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Background of the Dish

The ensalada de coditos, also known as pasta salad, is a popular dish that has different versions all over the world.

Although it is a recipe originally from Italy, in this article we will show you the Andalusian version that has staple ingredients from the region (olive oil, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, etc.).

It is a fantastic alternative to incorporate pasta into your summer diet since it is a dish that is served cold and has fresh ingredients.

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Things You’ll Need for Ensalada de Coditos

To make the ensalada de coditos you need elbow pasta, tomatoes, serrano ham, bell peppers, manchego cheese, olive oil, and vinegar, among other ingredients.

You don’t need any equipment since this Spanish summer salad is made with store-bought pasta.

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups (250 gr) elbows pasta (macaroni-type pasta)
• 150 gr serrano ham (or regular ham)
• 150 grams manchego cheese
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 onion
• 2 tomatoes
• 1/2 cup (100 gr) green olives (pitted)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

How to Make Ensalada de Coditos – Step by Step Guide

1. To start making the ham and cheese macaroni salad you have to cook the elbows pasta in a pot covered with water and a pinch of salt. Follow the package instructions until the pasta reaches the al dente point.

2. For the next step, you have to drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking the coditos. Set them aside to cool.

3. After that, cut the serrano ham (or regular ham) and the manchego cheese (or another similar cheese) into small cubes. Set them aside.

4. Then, wash, peel, and chop the onion into small cubes. Wash and cut the peppers into small cubes, removing the inedible parts and the seeds. Set aside.

5. Now wash and cut the tomatoes into small cubes, removing the seeds. Cut the pitted olives in half.

6. In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta with all the ingredients that you cut before.

7. In another small bowl, prepare the dressing for the pasta salad with ham by mixing the olive oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, and pepper to taste. Beat the ingredients well until you get a homogenous mixture.

8. After that, pour the dressing over the serrano ham pasta salad and mix everything gently so that the ingredients get covered in it.

9. Now take the ham and macaroni salad to the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld and intensify.

10. Finally, you can serve the ensalada de coditos while cold.

Substitution of Ingredients

If you want to prepare the ensalada de coditos but you don’t have all of the ingredients don’t worry, there are some substitutions that you can make.

For example, instead of making this cold ham pasta salad with elbows, you can use other pasta types, like farfalle, tortiglioni, pipe, etc.

As well as it happens with other Spanish ham recipes, you can replace the serrano ham with regular ham, or even a vegan version for it.

The traditional Spanish salad dressing is a mix between olive oil and vinegar, for this recipe, you add mayonnaise (for more creaminess) but you can skip it or replace it with cream cheese or sour cream.

Try other healthy and nutritious salads like the ensalada de aguacate, an easy-to-make Spanish avocado salad.

Tips on Serving Ensalada de Coditos

What we love the most about the ensalada de coditos con jamon is that it is the perfect way of enjoying pasta during the summer or hot days: you serve it cold so you won’t sweat while eating it.

You can serve the Spanish pasta salad at lunch or dinner, and if you serve a large portion it can work as a main dish.

However, it is usually served as Spanish salad tapas or side dishes, but feel free to serve as much as you want.

This Spanish-style salad could be the main star of a salad bar alongside other Andalusian salads like the Spanish chickpea salad, the Spanish potato salad with tuna, or the ensalada de espinacas.

How to Store Ensalada de Coditos

You can store the Spanish macaroni salad with ham in the fridge for up to 4 days, or in the freezer for up to 30 days.

In both cases, you have to place the Spanish salad in a covered container (with a lid, plastic wrap, or a clean plastic bag).

If you freeze the ensalada de coditos, then let it thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

Other Spanish salad recipes that can be stored for a long amount of time are the Spanish potato salad with beets and the Spanish lentil salad.

Recipe Card: Ensalada de Coditos

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