Zesty Pasta Salad

by | Jun 1, 2025 | Salads

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Zesty Pasta Salad

Print Recipe

Ingredients
  

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups cooked pasta like rotini, fusilli or bowties – cooked and cooled
  • Broccoli florets lightly steamed or blanched
  • Cherry tomatoes halved
  • Cucumbers or zucchini chopped
  • Bell peppers sliced
  • Red onion grated

Dressing:

  • 2 –3 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 2 –3 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley curly or flat-leaf
  • 2 tbsp nutritional yeast adds that savory, cheesy depth
  • ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 –4 tbsp water or unsweetened plant milk to thin and blend
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse with cold water and allow to cool completely.
  • Lightly steam or blanch the broccoli florets until bright green and just tender. Set aside to cool.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers or zucchini, bell peppers and grated red onion.
  • In a small bowl or blender, whisk together the lemon juice, minced garlic, oregano, parsley, nutritional yeast, crushed red pepper flakes, water or unsweetened plant milk and salt until well combined.
  • Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until everything is evenly coated.
  • Chill for 20–30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to come together.
  • Garnish with extra parsley or a sprinkle of nutritional yeast if desired.