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This Solar-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad recipe is one in every of my favourite pantry meals. I rapidly put it collectively when our fridge was operating low on contemporary elements. It’s now one in every of my absolute favourite pantry meals! Even with no bunch of veggies, this sun-dried tomato pasta salad is filled with taste, texture, and diet, and I just about all the time have the shelf-stable elements, i.e., pasta, chickpeas, olives, and spices (plus the spinach, feta, and lemon) available.
To be completely trustworthy with you, this sun-dried tomato pasta salad was truly a cheerful accident…a very glad accident. I used to be quick on time one night and didn’t have the power to go to the grocery retailer, so I raided my kitchen to see what I might give you. The consequence was a pasta salad stuffed with chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and some different elements that gave this impromptu recipe a Mediterranean aptitude. One of the best half is that it was tremendous straightforward to make (it takes simply half-hour), and now it’s now a staple in my weeknight dinner rotation.
This recipe is really easy to make and tastes so good. I eat it chilly for my work lunches and I reckon it’s my new go-to lunch! Will certainly be making extra. – Jess Thomas
Recipe at a Look
Delicacies Inspiration: Mediterranean
Major Cooking Methodology: Boiling and mixing
Dietary Information: Vegetarian
Key Taste: Solar-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, olives, and feta
Ability Degree: Straightforward
Why This Is So Good
- Customizable: The fundamental elements on this recipe may be simply swapped out. With the fitting modifications, I’ve made it for mates who’re gluten and dairy-free.
- Versatile: I like this sun-dried tomato pasta salad as a primary course, however it additionally makes a terrific aspect dish. I believe it’s significantly good with Pesto Grilled Rooster and Harissa Glazed Salmon.
- Reasonably priced: From the canned chickpeas to the dried pasta, this dish is made with budget-friendly elements.
Elements for Solar-dried Tomato Pasta Salad
- Rotini pasta: A brief, sturdy noodle is the inspiration for any pasta salad. I take advantage of rotini as a result of the spiral form holds the liquid within the salad so effectively.
- Solar-dried tomatoes: I really like sun-dried tomatoes as a result of they’re barely sweeter than common tomatoes, and the oil they comprise is ideal for making a lightweight pasta salad dressing on this recipe. In case you’re in search of extra recipes utilizing sun-dried tomatoes, strive my Stuffed Salmon and Mediterranean Egg Wrap.
- Lemon: You’ll use each the zest and the juice! Each of those add brightness to the dressing.
- Honey, Dijon mustard, and oregano: These make the dressing a little bit candy, tangy, and herby.
- Pink onion: That is extra delicate than white or yellow onions, which makes it very best for consuming uncooked!
- Chickpeas: Chickpeas could make this salad actually really feel like a full meal with their added protein.
- Inexperienced olives: The salty taste of inexperienced olives makes a terrific steadiness between the pure sweetness of the sun-dried tomatoes and the nuttiness of the chickpeas.
- Feta cheese: Tangy, wealthy, and barely salty, crumbled feta cheese on high of this pasta salad provides a richness and much more Mediterranean aptitude.
Well-liked Substitutions and Additions
- Any quick noodle works. Rotini and fusilli are nice on this sun-dried tomato pasta recipe. Their quick size makes them straightforward to combine and eat, and their texture helps them maintain the dressing. That being mentioned, any quick noodles you may have available will do the job. You’ll be able to even use whole-wheat pasta.
- Make it gluten-free. Use gluten-free noodles to create a gluten-free model.
- Add tuna. Within the unique model of this recipe, I additionally added canned tuna to make the recipe larger in protein. I completely advocate this.
- Black olives work effectively. In case you desire the milder taste of black olives, be happy to make use of them as an alternative of inexperienced olives.
- Dried fruit is a tasty addition. The sweetness of dried fruit works splendidly with the tangy flavors on this salad. I’ve used sliced dates, apricots, and golden raisins earlier than.
- Parmesan works instead of feta. In case you don’t have feta cheese, you need to use parmesan. Whereas it’s not almost as tangy as feta, parmesan has a salty, sturdy taste that’s good on this dish. (Be aware: Utilizing parmesan will make this pasta salad, not vegetarian.) You’ll be able to omit the cheese fully for a dairy-free dish.
Tips on how to Make Solar-dried Tomato Pasta Salad
This sun-dried tomato pasta salad includes cooking the pasta, combining all the elements in a big bowl, and tossing. It’s really easy and prepared in lower than half-hour!
I really like The addition of solar dried tomatoes to pasta salad. Would undoubtedly make it extra typically. – Amanda
Ideas for Making the Finest Pasta Salad with Solar-dried Tomatoes
- Prepare dinner the pasta to al dente. Pasta ought to all the time be cooked to al dente for pasta salad. This creates a firmer texture, maintaining the pasta from breaking up because it’s combined with the opposite elements or getting soggy when tossed with dressing. Try my put up on the way to cook dinner pasta for good noodles each time.
- Costume the pasta whereas it’s sizzling. Sizzling pasta absorbs the dressing, permitting it to take in extra taste. It additionally prevents a puddle of dressing on the backside of the bowl.
- By no means rinse your pasta. The pure starches are launched because the pasta cooks, coating the pasta. These starches assist the dressing persist with the pasta. Rinsing the pasta additionally cools it down, making it tougher for it to soak up the dressing.
- Use textured noodles. This continues the theme of guaranteeing your pasta holds onto your dressing! Brief pasta noodles like fusilli, farfalle, rotini, or penne have textured shapes that entice the dressing.
- Toss your pasta salad. Toss your pasta salad somewhat than stirring it. This retains your pasta intact whereas nonetheless totally combining all of the pasta salad elements.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
As a result of this pasta salad doesn’t have any mayo in, it does hold rather well. Make a double batch for easy-to-grab lunches throughout the week. Let the salad cool and switch it to an air tight container, it should hold effectively for as much as 5 days within the fridge. It’s additionally a terrific choice to take to a potluck or picnic.
This pasta salad is extremely versatile and scrumptious when served chilly, at room temperature, or heat. In case you eat it instantly after you make it, will probably be on the hotter aspect. To eat it chilly, plan on a 2-ish-hour cooling time within the fridge.
In case you solely have dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, you’ll be able to rehydrate them in sizzling water for about 10 minutes after which use olive oil for the dressing. This provides you with an identical texture and taste.
If I would like a meal in a rush, I do know this sun-dried tomato pasta will probably be a winner. It’s extremely flavorful and made with minimal, largely pantry elements. It’s additionally a terrific make-ahead, low-cost dish to deliver to a potluck. Be warned, although: Once I final took this pasta salad to a good friend’s cookout, not less than 5 folks requested me for the recipe.
Extra Pasta Salad Recipes
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This sun-dried tomato pasta salad recipe was initially printed on April 20, 2020, and has not too long ago been up to date to take away the tuna for a extra versatile recipe. The put up has additionally been up to date with new images and step-by-step course of photographs to assist make the recipe.
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Deliver a big pot of well-salted water to a boil over excessive warmth. Prepare dinner the pasta till al dente, based on the bundle instructions. Drain the pasta.
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Drain the sun-dried tomatoes and pour the oil into a big serving bowl. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper and whisk till emulsified. Add the pink onions and permit them to marinate within the dressing when you put together the remaining elements.
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Switch the pasta on high of the dressing with the onions. Add the reserved sun-dried tomatoes, chickpeas, spinach, and olives. Toss to mix and sprinkle with feta cheese proper earlier than serving.
Substitutes: For finest outcomes, observe the recipe as is. Because it’s a salad although, the elements and measurements are simply tips, so be happy to regulate. To make this gluten-free, use any sort of gluten-free pasta you’d like and cook dinner it al dente.
Serving: 1.5cups, Energy: 384kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 15g, Fats: 8g, Saturated Fats: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g, Monounsaturated Fats: 3g, Ldl cholesterol: 8mg, Sodium: 836mg, Potassium: 398mg, Fiber: 8g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 844IU, Vitamin C: 17mg, Calcium: 130mg, Iron: 3mg
Vitamin data supplied is an estimate. It’s going to range primarily based on cooking methodology and particular elements used.
