Cold Pasta Salad Recipe - with Avocado, Feta, Cherry Tomatoes and delicious Bell Pepper Dressing

This cold pasta salad recipe is quick and versatile and it is easy to ring the changes. This recipe is fresh and quite substantial. It is also colorful and absolutely delicious.

Ingredients:

Method:

1. Mix together the balsamic vinegar and brown sugar.
2. Bring about 4 pints / 2 litres of water to the boil and add the pasta. Cook until it is 'al dente' - in other words, it should be just firm when you bite into it. Drain and tip into a large salad bowl or platter.
3. Whilst the pasta is cooking, fry the diced onion gently until it is translucent and slightly caramelized. Add the peppers and fry gently until they are slightly soft - about 5 minutes. Pour over the balsamic vinegar and scrape down the pan. Transfer this mixture to the hot pasta. Doing this whilst the pasta is still hot allows it to soak up the juices and flavor of the dressing. Allow to cool.
4. Chop the avocado into inch squares. Add to the cool pasta.
5. Add the olives and tomatoes and feta.
6. Lastly sprinkle over the roasted sunflower seeds.
7. This pasta dish makes a great lunch box meal. You can prepare the salad the night before, but only add the avocado pear in the morning before work or school, as it will color if left out too long.