This recipe idea is a variation of the tomato and basil pasta salad with the addition of sausage and Parmesan cheese. The sausage and cheese make this dish a little more kid-friendly, but you can skip the tomato if you want, since not all kids like raw tomatoes. The idea is that a pasta salad, dressed up any way you like, is fabulous for kids' birthdays and school parties. It's an exciting and healthy change from pizza — kids love pasta too! You can make your pasta salad with the best ingredients and the perfect pasta from Italy.
I made this version for my daughter's birthday party. The night before, I cooked the pasta and chopped the sausage and tomatoes. The next morning, I tossed everything together with olive oil, Parmesan, basil, salt, and pepper. It was ready in minutes, and it got devoured in no time. The parents loved it too!
Put the pasta in a bowl and add the chopped sausage and tomatoes.
Tear the basil and add it to the pasta.
Drizzle with olive oil — just enough to coat it lightly.
Add the Parmesan, salt & pepper and toss to combine.
Store in the fridge or let it sit at room temperature if serving soon.
