This recent, straightforward pasta salad recipe comes collectively in below half-hour! Tossed in a tangy French dressing and full of veggies, it is a cookout hit.
Immediately’s recipe is a picnic-perfect pasta salad! Each cookout wants an excellent pasta salad, and that is the one which I make all summer season lengthy. It comes collectively very quickly, it’s stuffed with recent elements, and it packs a flavorful punch.
I took further care to be sure that this recipe is not only straightforward, but in addition straightforward to make in advance… as a result of I completely get that you just don’t need to be futzing together with your pasta salad when you could possibly be spending time exterior with your mates.
Be aware: In the event 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 traditional pasta salad recipe is straightforward and recent. Right here’s what you’ll have to make it:
- Fusilli pasta – Or your pasta of alternative! Quick 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 have to peel them.
- Chickpeas – They add plant-based protein.
- Arugula – It provides peppery taste and additional inexperienced.
- Feta cheese – For salty, tangy taste.
- Pine nuts – Just like the cucumbers, they add satisfying crunch.
- And recent herbs – Parsley, basil, AND mint pack this salad with recent taste!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
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, pink 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, nevertheless it’s not your solely possibility right here. Strive tossing this salad with Italian dressing or a pink wine vinegar Greek salad dressing as a substitute!
Find out how to Make Pasta Salad
Making this recipe is a breeze! Simply observe these easy steps:
- Cook 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 every little thing collectively in a giant bowl! Season to style and dig in.
My Finest Pasta Salad Suggestions
- Cook dinner your pasta slightly longer than regular. It must be a tad previous al dente (however not mushy) in order that the pasta stays delicate when it cools. I discover that the upper time vary listed on the bundle directions is normally nearly proper for chilly pasta salad.
- Let your pasta cool utterly 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 you’re tossing chilly pasta into this dish.
- Style and alter. Like most salad recipes, this one is tremendous versatile, so make sure you style and alter it to your liking earlier than serving. Add extra lemon if you happen to want a tangier salad, toss in additional greens if you happen to’re all in regards to the veggies, and all the time, all the time salt to style.
Recipe Variations
This pasta salad is unbelievable as-is, however be at liberty to alter it as much as match your tastes or the elements in your pantry. Listed here are a number of solutions:
- Make it vegan. Use olives or solar dried tomatoes rather than the feta.
- Make it gluten-free. Use gluten-free pasta or quinoa rather than 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 pink onion.
- Strive a Caprese combo. Use halved mini mozzarella balls rather than the feta.
- Strive one other herb. Recent oregano can be beautiful rather than the mint on this salad, and thyme would even be an excellent addition.
- Swap out the arugula for spinach, or go away it out altogether if you happen to want the next pasta: veggie ratio.
- Or roast your chickpeas for further crunch.
Find out how to Retailer and Make Forward
This pasta salad recipe is a good facet 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 maintain nicely in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
In the event 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 coloration and the pine nuts will maintain their crunch. Toss them into the salad and season to style with extra salt and lemon juice earlier than digging in.
Extra Favourite Summer time Salads
In the event you love this pasta salad recipe, attempt certainly one of these scrumptious summer season salads subsequent:
Simple Pasta Salad
Serves 6
You may love this straightforward pasta salad recipe! It is an excellent one to make forward – if you happen to’re bringing it to a picnic, prep it as much as a day prematurely.
Stop your display screen from going darkish
-
Carry a massive pot of salted water to a boil. Put together the pasta in response to the bundle instructions, or till barely previous al dente.
-
In the meantime, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, herbes de Provence, pink pepper flakes, and salt. (Be aware: the dressing can have a powerful taste, it’ll mellow as soon as it coats all the pasta salad elements).
-
Drain the pasta, toss it with slightly olive oil (in order that it doesn’t stick collectively) and let it cool to room temp. Switch to a massive 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.
