Pasta Salad

Photo: The Jewels of New York

8 of 8

NEXT

SLIDESHOW

Pasta Salad
Why guests love it: The combination of pasta plus vegetables plus dressing pretty much instantly conveys "summertime party."

Why cooks love it: It's a dish that actually tastes best when you make it a few hours ahead of time, so the components have time to mingle and deepen. And this lightened-up take on the classic has fresh tomatoes, cannellini beans, hazelnuts and mint, making it much more balanced than the usual.

Get the recipe: Summer Pasta Salad