Description
Fresh spring pasta salad delivers Mediterranean charm with crisp vegetables and tangy herb dressing. Colorful ingredients dance together, creating a light meal that refreshes palates and energizes you for delightful dining.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Fruits:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Pasta and Base:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rotini pasta
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons honey mustard
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook rotini pasta in boiling water for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender, ensuring it remains slightly firm to the bite.
- Immediately drain pasta and rinse thoroughly with cold water to halt cooking process and cool down quickly.
- Dice cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and red onion into uniform, small bite-sized pieces for consistent texture and even distribution.
- Create a vibrant dressing by vigorously whisking honey mustard, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt, and cracked black pepper until ingredients emulsify into a smooth, glossy mixture.
- Gently fold chopped vegetables and fresh herbs into the cooled pasta, ensuring even coating.
- Drizzle prepared dressing over the pasta mixture, tossing delicately to prevent breaking pasta pieces.
- Refrigerate salad for 30-45 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify, creating a refreshing and harmonious dish.
- Before serving, give the salad a final gentle toss to redistribute the dressing and revive the ingredients.
Notes
- Pasta Selection Matters: Choose whole wheat or gluten-free rotini for healthier or dietary-specific variations.
- Veggie Flexibility: Swap or add seasonal vegetables like zucchini, radishes, or asparagus for extra crunch and nutrition.
- Dressing Customization: Adjust honey mustard dressing by using Greek yogurt for a tangier flavor or adding fresh herbs like basil or dill.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the salad a day in advance to enhance the flavor profile, letting ingredients marinate overnight for deeper taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 293 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg