This contemporary, simple pasta salad recipe comes collectively in below half-hour! Tossed in a tangy French dressing and full of veggies, it is a cookout hit.
As we speak’s recipe is a picnic-perfect pasta salad! Each cookout wants a terrific pasta salad, and that is the one which I make all summer season lengthy. It comes collectively very quickly, it’s filled with contemporary components, and it packs a flavorful punch.
I took further care to make it possible for 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 might be spending time outdoors with your folks.
Word: When you do resolve to make this salad prematurely, toss on some complete basil leaves earlier than serving to make it immediately prettier.
Pasta Salad Substances
This traditional pasta salad recipe is simple and contemporary. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Fusilli pasta – Or your pasta of selection! Quick pasta shapes are finest right here. I like rotini, penne, and farfalle along with fusilli.
- Cherry tomatoes – I really 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 additional 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 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, crimson pepper flakes, and salt. I end it with a pinch of herbes de Provence. Italian seasoning works properly too!
I really like this fast selfmade dressing, however it’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!
Easy methods to Make Pasta Salad
Making this recipe is a breeze! Simply observe 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 components.
- And toss all the pieces collectively in an enormous bowl! Season to style and dig in.
My Finest Pasta Salad Suggestions
- Prepare 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 package deal directions is often nearly proper for chilly pasta salad.
- Let your pasta cool fully earlier than tossing it with the opposite components. If it’s nonetheless heat, the new pasta will begin to prepare 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 regulate. Like most salad recipes, this one is tremendous versatile, so make sure you style and regulate 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 all the time, all the time salt to style.
Recipe Variations
This pasta salad is unbelievable as-is, however be happy to alter it as much as match your tastes or the components in your pantry. Listed here are a number of options:
- 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. Contemporary oregano could be pretty instead of the mint on this salad, and thyme would even be a terrific addition.
- Swap out the arugula for spinach, or go away it out altogether for those who desire the next pasta: veggie ratio.
- Or roast your chickpeas for further crunch.
Easy methods to 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 preserve effectively 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 coloration and the pine nuts will preserve 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
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 a terrific one to make forward – for those who’re bringing it to a picnic, prep it as much as a day prematurely.
Forestall your display from going darkish
-
Deliver a giant pot of salted water to a boil. Put together the pasta in response to the package deal 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, crimson pepper flakes, and salt. (Word: the dressing can have a robust taste, it’ll mellow as soon as it coats the entire pasta salad components).
-
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 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.