Per part 1 of this series on pasta salad, I’m not usually a fan of mayo-based pasta salads. This simple and delicious buffalo and gorgonzola variation incorporates spicy and tangy buffalo sauce with funky, creamy gorgonzola. The addition of shallot and pickles rounds out the flavor profile and provides some nice crunch.

Ingredients

Sauce

• Mayonnaise
• Buffalo sauce
• Garlic powder
• Black pepper

Substance

• Pasta (we used spiral pasta made from red lentils)
• Shallot, diced
• Pickles, chopped
• Gorgonzola

Prepare your spicy, funky salad

Start by cooking your pasta per instructions on the box (kudos to anyone not using boxed pasta and attempting to make their own). Drain your pasta and let it cool.

Prepare your pasta dressing with a mix of mayo and buffalo sauce. If you’re a spice lord, play around with a higher ratio of buffalo sauce to mayo. Whisk together with your black pepper and garlic powder.

Combine your drained, cooled pasta, dressing, shallot, gorgonzola, and chopped pickles. Add additional pepper, garlic, and salt to taste. And that’s it! A simple set of ingredients that yields a delicious pasta salad that goes with anything or could even be eaten as a meal on its own. This is a great make-ahead and can be placed in the fridge until ready for plating, but can also be eaten immediately! Makes a great side dish for G.O.M. burgers!