This colourful Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe is a scrumptious collaboration of hearty substances, fragrant seasonings, and a vibrant aesthetic. Made with marinated tofu, roasted greens, fusilli pasta, and a sundried tomato and herb dressing, it’s a nutritious and satisfying anytime meal.
This recipe was written on November 7, 2018. It was up to date with extra recipe info on June 14, 2024.
If you happen to’re on the lookout for a lightweight and flavorful warm-weather dish, you’ll love this wholesome pasta salad. It’s simple to organize and bursting with Mediterranean flavors! Protein-rich tofu is marinated in tangy pink wine vinegar and herbs for max taste. Mixed with roasted zucchini and al dente pasta, the combination is tossed in additional virgin olive oil, recent basil, sundried and recent tomatoes, and olives. Every chew of this aromatic vegan pasta salad is a Mediterranean getaway!
This wholesome summer time pasta salad is nice for meal preparation. Whip up a match to take pleasure in fast, grab-and-go lunches or gentle dinners all through the week. Mediterranean pasta recipes additionally make the final word picnic deal with!
For extra vegan pasta recipes, strive my avocado pesto pasta, spring veggie pasta, or vegan pasta salad.
Elements
Pink Wine Vinegar: Provides a tangy depth to the Mediterranean pasta salad dressing. Use high-quality pink wine vinegar for the perfect taste. Alternatively, substitute for balsamic vinegar for a sweeter, richer taste.
Further Virgin Olive Oil: Important for the tofu marinade and pasta salad vegan dressing. Select a cold-pressed, additional virgin selection for the richest taste and most well being advantages. Alternatively, swap with avocado or walnut oil for a unique, but complimentary taste.
Dried Herbs: Dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary are a basic mix for Mediterranean pasta, including fragrant complexity to the dish. Recent herbs can be utilized if out there, simply use 3 times the quantity of the dried herbs.
Black Pepper: Floor black pepper provides a delicate heat that compliments the opposite flavors. Use a peppermill to freshly grind black peppercorns or go for pre-ground pepper for comfort.
Pink Pepper Flakes: Add a touch of additional warmth and spice. Regulate the quantity to fit your warmth desire. For a smoky taste, swap the pepper flakes for smoked paprika.
Salt: Enhances all of the flavors within the wholesome pasta salad recipe. Use sea salt or kosher salt for a cleaner, smoother style.
Zucchini: Gives a pop of coloration and candy, savory essence to the dish. Select agency, unblemished zucchini. Alternatively, swap for equal elements butternut squash for a heartier texture and sweeter taste.
Fusilli Pasta: Fussili is good because it holds the pasta salad Mediterranean dressing effectively. Cook dinner al dente in accordance with package deal instructions for the perfect biteable texture. If desired, use one other quick pasta form like rotini or penne, or a gluten-free different to go well with dietary wants.
Inexperienced Olives: Add a briny, savory punch to the pasta. Select pitted olives for comfort. You may also use black olives or Kalamata olives for a taste variation.
Sundried Tomatoes: Elevates the flavour of the salad with a sweet-tart notice. Search for sundried tomatoes packed in oil for a richer style or dry-packed for a much less oily possibility.
Vine-ripened Tomatoes: A recent vine-ripened tomato provides juiciness and freshness to the vegetarian pasta salad. Choose a vibrant pink and agency tomato for the perfect taste. If you happen to can’t discover ripe tomatoes, use canned diced tomatoes, drained.
Recent Basil: Gives a recent, peppery taste that brightens the pasta salad. Search for vibrant inexperienced leaves for the perfect taste. If desired, substitute with recent parsley or cilantro for a twist.
The best way to Make Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- Marinate Tofu. Mix the pink wine vinegar, additional virgin olive oil, basil, oregano, black pepper, chili flakes, thyme, rosemary, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk or stir effectively to mix. Add the cubed tofu to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Set it apart on the counter or fridge to marinate when you put together the opposite substances. For finest outcomes, marinate the tofu in a single day when you have the time.
- Roast Veggies. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Place the zucchini or butternut squash on the baking sheet and toss with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Unfold the greens out in an excellent layer and roast for half-hour.
- Cook dinner Pasta. Cook dinner the pasta in closely salted water in accordance with the package deal directions. Drain the cooked pasta, then toss instantly with a drizzle of additional virgin olive oil. Unfold it evenly on a baking sheet to chill till prepared to make use of.
- Toss Salad. As soon as the veggies are roasted, switch them to a big mixing or salad bowl. Then add the pasta, tofu with its marinade, olives, sundried tomatoes, and uncooked tomatoes. Stir effectively to coat, and season to style with salt if wanted.
- Garnish. Serve instantly or set it apart to chill and marinate extra. Prime with recent basil earlier than serving.
Recipe Professional-Ideas
- Completely press the tofu. Be sure to press the tofu effectively to take away extra water earlier than marinating. This helps the tofu higher soak up the marinade and obtain a firmer texture. Use a tofu press or wrap it in a clear kitchen towel, place a heavy object on high, and let it relaxation for not less than quarter-hour.
- Marinate the tofu in a single day. The longer the tofu soaks within the marinade, the extra flavorful it can turn into, giving it most taste.
- If attainable, use recent herbs. Recent herbs can considerably improve the flavour of the vegan pasta salad recipe. If you happen to discover them recent, use them as a substitute of dried, and triple the amount of the dried herbs listed within the recipe.
- Cook dinner pasta al dente. Comply with the package deal directions to cook dinner the pasta in closely salted water till simply al dente, so it has a agency, biteable texture. This helps the noodles soak up extra of the dressing and have the perfect texture within the salad.
- Fully cook dinner the pasta. Permit the cooked pasta to chill utterly earlier than mixing it with the opposite substances. This prevents the salad from changing into mushy and helps meld the flavors.
- Customise the veggies. Be at liberty to modify up the roasted veggie of selection relying on what’s in season. Nice options are bell peppers, mushrooms, and eggplant. You may also use a mix of various veggies.
Serving Options
Get pleasure from this pasta salad as a lightweight lunch, dinner, or snack. Or, pair it with a few of our favourite recipes beneath for a full Mediterranean-inspired unfold at your subsequent yard get-together:
Storage Instructions
Leftovers might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Contemplate storing the recent herbs and veggies individually, as they might wilt, and including them to the salad simply earlier than serving.
Continuously Requested Questions
This pasta salad recipe is a wholesome meal possibility, because it’s made with complete substances and balanced vitamins. Tofu offers a plant-based protein and pasta (select a whole-grain pasta for the healthiest possibility) and greens present dietary fiber. Utilizing plant-based substances, it’s low in saturated fat, and additional virgin olive oil offers wholesome monounsaturated fat.
Sure! This salad might be made as much as three days prematurely. Put together the dairy-free pasta salad as outlined within the recipe, reserving the recent veggies and herbs (if utilizing). Retailer in an hermetic container within the fridge till able to stir within the greens and herbs and serve.
If you happen to want to not use tofu, substitute it with tempeh, cooked chickpeas, or lentils for a unique protein supply. Regulate the marinating time as wanted for the perfect taste absorption.
Extra Vegan Pasta Recipes
Recipe Card
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Mix the pink wine vinegar, additional virgin olive oil, basil, oregano, black pepper, chili flakes, thyme, rosemary, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk or stir effectively to mix.
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Add the cubed tofu to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Set it apart on the counter or fridge to marinate when you put together the opposite substances. When you have the time, marinate the tofu in a single day within the fridge when you have the time.
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Place the zucchini or butternut squash on the baking sheet and toss with 1-2 tablespoons of avocado or olive oil. Unfold the greens out evenly and roast for half-hour.
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Cook dinner the pasta in closely salted water in accordance with the package deal directions. Drain the cooked pasta, then toss instantly with a drizzle of additional virgin olive oil. Unfold it evenly on a baking sheet to chill till prepared to make use of.
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As soon as the squash is roasted, switch it to a big mixing or salad bowl, then add the pasta, tofu with its marinade, olives, sundried tomatoes, and uncooked tomatoes. Stir effectively to coat, and season to style with salt if wanted.
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Serve instantly or set it apart to chill and marinate extra. Prime with recent basil earlier than serving.
Leftovers might be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Contemplate storing the recent herbs and veggies individually, as they might wilt, and including them to the salad simply earlier than serving.
Recipe Professional-Ideas
- Completely press the tofu. Be sure to press the tofu effectively to take away extra water earlier than marinating. This helps the tofu higher soak up the marinade and obtain a firmer texture. Use a tofu press or wrap it in a clear kitchen towel, place a heavy object on high, and let it relaxation for not less than quarter-hour.
- Marinate the tofu in a single day. The longer the tofu soaks within the marinade, the extra flavorful it can turn into, giving it most taste.
- If attainable, use recent herbs. Recent herbs can considerably improve the flavour of the vegan pasta salad recipe. If you happen to discover them recent, use them as a substitute of dried, and triple the amount of the dried herbs listed within the recipe.
- Cook dinner pasta al dente. Comply with the package deal directions to cook dinner the pasta in closely salted water till simply al dente, so it has a agency, biteable texture. This helps the noodles soak up extra of the dressing and have the perfect texture within the salad.
- Fully cook dinner the pasta. Permit the cooked pasta to chill utterly earlier than mixing it with the opposite substances. This prevents the salad from changing into mushy and helps meld the flavors.
- Customise the veggies. Be at liberty to modify up the roasted veggie of selection relying on what’s in season. Nice options are bell peppers, mushrooms, and eggplant. Or, use a mix of various veggies.
