Pasta salad ideas for packed lunch

[ZuleikaJambiere]

Having seen pasta salad suggested on packed lunch threads, DD has said she'd like to try some as a change to sandwiches. What dressing and additional ingredients do you put with the pasta, if it has to sit and sweat on a warm shelf all morning

DD doesn't like mayo, and although I'll send a fork she is very likely to eat it with her fingers (she's only 3.5)

TIA

Pesto (red or green) - I made my first homemade stuff yesterday, and its amazing

BBQ sauce - also easy to make homemade with passata

Opps, forgot to add - I would put mushrooms/sweetcorn & either tuna or chicken with the BBQ sauce one.

You can add cream cheese, chicken, red epper, tomatoes etc with pesto

Homemade pesto is The Best , I hadn't thought of that. Unfortunately, my basil plants are less than an inch high at the moment, but soon ...

The BBQ sauce sounds good, and tuna and sweetcorn will be a hit with DD. Do you have a recipe you could easily share?

Thanks for the ideas

How about these,

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2994/deli-pasta-salad

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/picnic-recipes/summer-pasta-salad

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/lunch-box/turkey-pasta-salad

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/pasta/pasta-salad-pepper

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/healthy-recipes/chicken-pasta-salad

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/barbecue-recipes/prawn-pasta-salad

www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/breastfeeding/chicken-broccoli-mangetout-pasta-salad

Could she take her lunch in a cool bag?

Those links are great thanks Sharon, I know she'll especially love the first one

Cool bag is obvious, now you mention it Totem!

You can freeze her drink too, it will keep her food colder for longer and should be thawed by lunch too.

A tip I learned recently was to add any pasta salad dressing when the pasta is still hot as is better absorbed that way.

I always do pesto, Fetta and halved cherry tomatoes.

Or a bought Italian salad dressing. Dress when hot then when it's cold add halved cherry toms, cucumber, peppers, chicken, artichoke hearts and some cheese (Parmesan, Fetta or whatever is hanging round the fridge).

These are all great ideas - she loves kidney beans too, so we'll be trying your Mum's recipe Lula. In fact, I think we'll all be having pasta salads for a while now, my mouth is watering! Thanks everyone