Servings: 8

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 large Red Peppers
• 2 large Yellow Peppers
• 1/4 cup Blue Cheese, crumbled (2 oz)
• 16 oz Rotini Pasta
• 1 lb Cooked Bay Scallops
• 1/4 cup Fresh Dillweed
• 1 cup Italian Salad Dressing

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Char the red and yellow peppers evenly over a gas flame, grill, or under the broiler until the skin is charred and blistered.
2. Place the charred peppers in a paper bag, close it, and let them stand for 15 minutes. This process will help to loosen the skin.
3. After 15 minutes, peel or rub away the charred skin from the peppers. Remove the tops and seeds, then slice the peppers into thin strips.
4. Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it with cold water. Drain well.
5. In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sliced roasted peppers, crumbled blue cheese, cooked bay scallops, and fresh dillweed.
6. Pour the Italian salad dressing over the ingredients in the bowl, and mix everything well until all the ingredients are coated with the dressing.
7. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for about 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
8. Once chilled, give the pasta salad a final toss before serving. Enjoy your delicious Roasted Pepper and Scallop Pasta Salad!

Variations of Roasted Pepper and Scallop Pasta Salad:

1. Grilled Shrimp: Substitute the bay scallops with grilled shrimp for a different seafood twist. Marinate the shrimp in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, and your favorite herbs before grilling.
2. Vegetarian Option: Skip the seafood and make it a vegetarian pasta salad. Add roasted or grilled vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes for a burst of flavor.
3. Mediterranean Flavors: Enhance the salad with Mediterranean flavors by adding Kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss with a lemon-oregano vinaigrette for a tangy kick.
4. Creamy Dressing: Replace the Italian salad dressing with a creamy dressing like ranch, Caesar, or a lemon-herb mayonnaise dressing. The creaminess will add a luxurious texture to the salad.
5. Fresh Herbs: Experiment with different fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, cilantro, or tarragon to add depth and freshness to the salad.
6. Nutty Crunch: Sprinkle some toasted pine nuts, chopped walnuts, or almonds over the salad to add a nutty crunch.
7. Spice it Up: Add a kick of heat by incorporating sliced jalapeños or red pepper flakes into the salad. If you like it spicier, consider using a spicy Italian dressing.
8. Go Green: Mix in a handful of baby spinach or arugula to add some vibrant green color and extra nutrients to the salad.
9. Citrus Zest: Add some citrus zest, like lemon or orange zest, to the dressing for a burst of citrusy flavor.
10. Greek Twist: Embrace Greek flavors by using Greek dressing, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and olives.
11. Asian Fusion: Add an Asian twist to the salad by tossing it with a soy-ginger dressing, toasted sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and julienned carrots. For an extra kick, drizzle with sriracha sauce.
12. Mediterranean Couscous: Substitute the pasta with cooked couscous for a lighter version. Mix in roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, olives, and fresh mint. Dress with lemon-olive oil vinaigrette.
13. Creamy Avocado: Mash a ripe avocado and blend it with Greek yogurt to create a creamy dressing. Toss with the pasta, scallops, roasted peppers, and cherry tomatoes. Garnish with chopped cilantro or basil.
14. Hawaiian Luau: Add diced pineapple, sliced red onion, and toasted coconut to the salad. Dress with a sweet and tangy pineapple-lime dressing. Grilled pineapple slices would be a delightful addition.
15. Tex-Mex Twist: Incorporate black beans, corn, diced red bell peppers, and chopped cilantro into the salad. Dress with a zesty lime-cilantro vinaigrette and top with crumbled queso fresco or Cotija cheese.