AdvertisementHow a Top New York Chef Makes Her Pasta Salad So Much Better It really is all about the pasta. To dress your pasta salad for the moment it’ll be eaten, not the moment it’s made, treat it as you would a pan of pasta. To dress your pasta salad for the moment it’ll be eaten, not the moment it’s made, treat it as you would a pan of pasta. Making a pasta salad this way isn’t complicated, but it asks you to pay attention. Begin with a little pasta water, and then add more if the salad begins to dry out as it cools.