A light and easy recipe for a lazy Sunday
Easy to assemble and rich in flavors, a pasta salad is a dish that’s loved by kids and grownups alike. This recipe is also flexible, so you can add in vegetables, pastas, and dressings that you enjoy.
While there are several variations of pasta salad, you can tweak the ingredients to make it nutritious and healthy. For instance, you can choose whole wheat pasta to add in more fiber. Choose vegetables rich in minerals and vitamins like tomatoes, peppers, and olives to bring in additional goodness. Make sure that the dressing is simple and refreshing and avoid adding anything that is synthetic or processed. Fresh lemon juice, garlic and herbs are refreshing and nutritious choices. Add in beans or peas for providing additional protein.
How to Make Pasta Salad
Ingredients
3 cups boiled pasta (macaroni, penne or fusilli work best)
1/2 cup boiled sweet corn kernels
1/2 cup boiled chickpeas
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
½ cup cucumber chopped in cubes
1 cup green/ yellow/ red pepper thinly sliced
1/4 cup black olives
½ cup feta or mozzarella or parmesan cheese
For the Pasta Salad Dressing
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 tsp salt
For Garnish
A handful of pine nuts or sliced almonds
¼ cup fresh basil and parsley roughly chopped
Steps To Make Pasta Salad
Boil pasta per the instructions. Once cooked, drain in cold water to prevent the individual pieces from sticking to each other.
In a large bowl, add the pasta, vegetables, corn, olives, and chickpeas and mix gently.
Whisk all the ingredients under the ‘dressing’ section and pour over the mixture and toss.
Add in the cheese from top.
Sprinkle the fresh basil and parsley and nuts before serving.
Pasta Salad Recipe Notes
This salad serves four and tastes best when served chilled or at room temperature.
You can substitute chickpeas with red kidney beans.
Feel free to use seasonal vegetables like asparagus, capers and even eggplant if you like them.
You can substitute red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice.
Fusilli, penne, and macaroni work best for this recipe of pasta salad.
