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Party Pasta a Perfect Fit for Bathing Suit Season

(Family Features) - Pasta for a figure-perfect diet — only in your dreams, right? Think again.

Full of fiber, protein, B-vitamins and essential minerals, pasta wears a nutritional halo all by itself. But pasta becomes a powerhouse when it carries nutrient-packed ingredients. And when those ingredients are tasty, colorful and appealing, it's a dream-come-true for all of us who crave mouth-watering flavors but want them served up in healthy style.

Pasta gets a "pass, with flying colors" from health experts. "Many people think pasta is off limits if you want to stay lean," said Brad Schoenfeld, fitness and sports nutrition expert and author of 28-Day Body Shapeover and Look Great at Any Age.

"Pasta is actually a terrific source of nutrients and can be enjoyed as a regular part of your diet," Schoenfeld asserts, "provided you choose the right kind of pasta. You need to read the label to make a smart pasta choice."

Perusing the pasta aisle, reading labels, is enlightening. Traditional pastas deliver an average of 2 grams of fiber per serving. A serving of pasta from Dreamfields provides 5 grams — more than twice the beneficial fiber as regular pasta — and only 5 grams of carbs, compared to 40 grams in regular pasta.

But don't think low-carb, high-fiber is the only thing this pasta has going for it. Because Dreamfields is made from traditional hard durum wheat semolina, it has the traditional pasta taste and texture we all love.

Wow your crowd with this pasta dish that tastes indulgent but delivers no guilt with its great taste. Loaded with crab and shrimp, crunchy with colorful red onion, carrot and celery, this party-perfect salad is dressed Southwestern-style, with a cumin, cilantro and chili pepper-spiked creamy avocado dressing. Ole!

Party Pasta Salad
12 servings

16 ounces Dreamfields Penne Rigate
1 cup chopped cilantro, divided
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, sliced into wedges, divided
8 ounces plain non-fat yogurt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 dried chili peppers, crumbled, divided
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 cup chopped peeled baby carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 can (6-8 ounces) canned shrimp, drained
1 can (6-8 ounces) canned crab, drained
Multicolored (red, blue, yellow) corn tortilla strips
Large tostada shell, for serving

Prepare pasta according to package directions; rinse in cold water and drain well.
Prepare dressing by placing 1 avocado, yogurt, cumin, salt and 1/2 cup cilantro, lemon juice and half the chili peppers. Blend until smooth and creamy.
In medium mixing bowl, gently toss dressing with drained pasta, remaining cilantro and chili peppers, and onion, carrot, celery, shrimp and crab. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour to let flavors blend.
To serve, transfer pasta salad to tostada shell bowl; garnish with tortilla strips and reserved avocado wedges.

Nutrition information per serving: Calories 220, Fat 4g, Protein 13g, Digestible carbs 8g

Check out more taste-tempting recipes and ideas, and nutrition information, at www.dreamfieldsfoods.com

SOURCE: Dreamfields Pasta