This wholesome pasta salad is contemporary, stuffed with taste, and ideal for summer time cookouts or meal prep—no mayo required! Made with simply 9 easy elements, it comes collectively in minutes.
I’m so excited to share this recipe with you as a result of I do know that you’re going to LOVE this wholesome pasta salad, which is an EBF-approved model of the pasta salad my mother used to make each summer time rising up.
My mother’s conventional recipe requires Miracle Whip… which isn’t precisely EBF pleasant so I skipped it and used an olive oil-based balsamic dressing with contemporary basil. Apart from that the salad elements are all the identical.
And Mother might be completely satisfied to know that I left the 1/2 teaspoon of sugar within the recipe. Perhaps it’s simply nostalgia, however I feel it actually does add a bit one thing to the salad. I went with coconut sugar to maintain issues extra pure and unrefined. 🙂
Why You Gotta Strive This One
This isn’t simply one other pasta salad tossed in French dressing. It’s vivid, herby, and stuffed with contemporary, crunchy veggies with simply the precise steadiness of candy and tangy. I’ve introduced it to cookouts, meal prepped it for the week, and eaten it straight from the bowl whereas standing on the fridge. It by some means works for each event and at all times disappears quick.
Elements Wanted
General, this wholesome pasta salad is sort of a gem. It’s not solely straightforward to organize, but it surely requires solely minimal elements and tastes so contemporary and scrumptious. The recipe makes a ton so it’s additionally nice for serving a crowd!
- pasta – I like to recommend utilizing both penne or rotini pasta, however some other quick pasta form will work on this recipe.
- tomatoes – these little guys add such nice taste to the salad.
- cucumbers and crimson onion – for some added crunch.
- balsamic dressing – a brilliant easy dressing made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, coconut sugar, crushed crimson pepper, sea salt.
Make This Salad Your Personal
- Combine-ins: Be at liberty to modify up your mix-ins for this pasta salad… I usually do! Typically I modify up the veggies based mostly on what I’ve readily available. Be at liberty to get inventive and make this your individual!
- Make it gluten-free: I’ve made this recipe earlier than with chickpea pasta for a high-protein, gluten-free possibility, so that will additionally work.
- Dressing: I like the balsamic dressing paired with this salad however any dressing would work when you’re in a pinch. Some choices: Greek Salad Dressing, white balsamic French dressing or lemon French dressing.
The right way to Make This Wholesome Pasta Salad
Step 1: Prepare dinner your pasta in line with the bundle directions.
Step 2: Whereas the pasta is cooking make the dressing by whisking all of the elements collectively in a small bowl.
Step 3: Add drained pasta into a big bowl with tomatoes, cucumber, and onion.
Step 4: Pour dressing over the elements and stir effectively to completely coat all the pieces within the dressing.
Brittany’s Recipe Suggestions
Earlier than you toss all the pieces collectively, listed here are a number of little tricks to take this salad from good to so good you’re bringing it to each cookout:
- Salt your pasta water! That is your one probability to season the noodles themselves. It makes an enormous distinction.
- Cool the pasta utterly. Heat pasta will take up an excessive amount of dressing and might get mushy. I often rinse it underneath chilly water to chill it down quick.
- Let it marinate. This salad truly will get higher after a number of hours within the fridge. The flavors have time to mingle and the dressing actually soaks in.
Storing Pasta Salad
To make it upfront: You may prep the salad the night time earlier than and let it chill within the fridge till serving.
To retailer leftovers: Retailer any leftovers in an hermetic container for 3-4 days within the fridge.
In the event you loved this recipe, please contemplate leaving a ⭐ star score and let me know the way it went within the 📝 feedback under.
Serving Ideas
This wholesome pasta salad is tremendous versatile and goes with absolutely anything. I like serving it as a aspect for summer time cookouts, picnics, or straightforward weeknight dinners. It pairs particularly effectively with grilled proteins and veggies! Right here’s some concepts:
Extra Wholesome Salads
You should definitely take a look at the entire pasta salad recipes in addition to the complete assortment of salad recipes on EBF!
