Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Wickles Pickle Jar Pasta Salad

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces uncooked fusilli pasta
  • 70 grams extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard (36 grams)
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoons black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1 cups pickle brine from the jar
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 8 ounces pepper Jack cheese, cut into 1/2-in. cubes
  • 1 medium orange bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cups fresh corn kernels (from 2 large ears)
  • 4 medium scallions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cups torn fresh basil leaves

Directions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add 3 ounces uncooked fusilli pasta and cook for 10 minutes longer than package directions, until al dente.
  2. Make the dressing: Meanwhile, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, whole-grain mustard, garlic cloves, salt, pepper, celery seed, and pickle brine in a large bowl. Add red onion, thinly sliced and let stand while the pasta cooks.
  3. Combine and cool: Drain the pasta and stir into the oil mixture. Let sit, stirring occasionally, until slightly cooled, about 15 minutes 
  4. Add mix-ins: Stir in cherry tomatoes, pepper Jack cheese, medium orange bell pepper, corn kernels, and scallion.
  5. Let sit until cooled to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
  6. Finish: Stir in torn fresh basil leaves and serve.
Notes
  • Recipe from @southernlivingmag (Birmingham, Alabama) — a pickle-brine pasta salad meant to use up leftover Wickles pickle juice instead of tossing it.