This contemporary, simple pasta salad recipe comes collectively in beneath half-hour! Tossed in a tangy French dressing and stuffed with veggies, it is a cookout hit.
Right now’s recipe is a picnic-perfect pasta salad! Each cookout wants an incredible pasta salad, and that is the one which I make all summer season lengthy. It comes collectively very quickly, it’s filled with contemporary elements, and it packs a flavorful punch.
I took additional care to be sure that this recipe is not only simple, but in addition simple to make in advance… as a result of I completely get that you simply don’t need to be futzing along with your pasta salad when you could possibly be spending time exterior with your mates.
Observe: When you do determine to make this salad prematurely, toss on some entire basil leaves earlier than serving to make it immediately prettier.
Pasta Salad Elements
This basic pasta salad recipe is simple and contemporary. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Fusilli pasta – Or your pasta of selection! Brief pasta shapes are greatest right here. I like rotini, penne, and farfalle along with fusilli.
- Cherry tomatoes – I like their candy taste and juicy texture on this salad.
- Cucumbers – For crunch! I like to make use of Persian cucumbers or English cucumber right here. Each have very skinny skins, so there’s no must peel them.
- Chickpeas – They add plant-based protein.
- Arugula – It provides peppery taste and further inexperienced.
- Feta cheese – For salty, tangy taste.
- Pine nuts – Just like the cucumbers, they add satisfying crunch.
- And contemporary herbs – Parsley, basil, AND mint pack this salad with contemporary taste!
Discover the entire recipe with measurements beneath.
Pasta Salad Dressing
A easy pasta salad dressing takes this recipe excessive. It’s a zesty mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, crimson pepper flakes, and salt. I end it with a pinch of herbes de Provence. Italian seasoning works properly too!
I like this fast do-it-yourself dressing, but it surely’s not your solely choice right here. Strive tossing this salad with Italian dressing or a crimson wine vinegar Greek salad dressing as a substitute!
Make Pasta Salad
Making this recipe is a breeze! Simply comply with these easy steps:
- Prepare dinner your pasta in a big pot of salted boiling water. Drain it, toss it with some olive oil, and set it apart to chill.
- Chop your cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, mince the parsley, and crumble the feta.
- Whisk collectively the dressing elements.
- And toss all the pieces collectively in a giant bowl! Season to style and dig in.
My Finest Pasta Salad Suggestions
- Prepare dinner your pasta a bit of longer than regular. It ought to be a tad previous al dente (however not mushy) in order that the pasta stays smooth when it cools. I discover that the upper time vary listed on the package deal directions is often nearly proper for chilly pasta salad.
- Let your pasta cool fully earlier than tossing it with the opposite elements. If it’s nonetheless heat, the recent pasta will begin to cook dinner and wilt the greens. Nobody’s a fan of heat cucumber, so be sure to’re tossing chilly pasta into this dish.
- Style and alter. Like most salad recipes, this one is tremendous versatile, so make sure to style and alter it to your liking earlier than serving. Add extra lemon for those who desire a tangier salad, toss in additional greens for those who’re all concerning the veggies, and at all times, at all times salt to style.
Recipe Variations
This pasta salad is implausible as-is, however be happy to alter it as much as match your tastes or the elements in your pantry. Listed here are a couple of ideas:
- Make it vegan. Use olives or solar dried tomatoes instead of the feta.
- Make it gluten-free. Use gluten-free pasta or quinoa instead of conventional noodles.
- Go Greek. To make this recipe extra of a Greek pasta salad, add 1/2 cup every of kalamata or black olives, diced bell pepper, and thinly sliced crimson onion.
- Strive a Caprese combo. Use halved mini mozzarella balls instead of the feta.
- Strive one other herb. Recent oregano can be pretty instead of the mint on this salad, and thyme would even be an incredible addition.
- Swap out the arugula for spinach, or depart it out altogether for those who desire a better pasta: veggie ratio.
- Or roast your chickpeas for additional crunch.
Retailer and Make Forward
This pasta salad recipe is a superb aspect dish to make forward for picnics, potlucks, and cookouts. I like to recommend making it as much as a day forward of a gathering. Leftovers hold properly in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
When you make this salad forward, wait so as to add half the herbs and pine nuts till proper earlier than serving. The herbs will retain their vibrant shade and the pine nuts will hold their crunch. Toss them into the salad and season to style with extra salt and lemon juice earlier than digging in.
Extra Favourite Summer season Salads
When you love this pasta salad recipe, strive one in all these scrumptious summer season salads subsequent:
Simple Pasta Salad
Serves 6
You will love this simple pasta salad recipe! It is an incredible one to make forward – for those who’re bringing it to a picnic, prep it as much as a day prematurely.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
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Deliver a giant pot of salted water to a boil. Put together the pasta in accordance with the package deal instructions, or till barely previous al dente.
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In the meantime, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, herbes de Provence, crimson pepper flakes, and salt. (Observe: the dressing may have a powerful taste, it’ll mellow as soon as it coats all the pasta salad elements).
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Drain the pasta, toss it with a bit of olive oil (in order that it doesn’t stick collectively) and let it cool to room temp. Switch to a giant bowl with the tomatoes, chickpeas, arugula, cucumbers, feta cheese, basil, parsley, mint, and pine nuts. Pour the dressing and toss to coat. Season to style with extra lemon, salt, pepper, and/or a drizzle of olive oil, if desired, and serve.
