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    Home > Salad

    April 30, 2021

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    The ideal summer salad - fresh, vibrant and, super easy to make! This beautiful pasta salad is a no-fuss, healthy meal that will become your new best friend on a busy day.

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe

    This summer pasta salad is an eternal favourite in my house,  I make this at least once a week and in large quantity so we can use it for as many meals as possible. Believe me, it's a real blessing to have a bowl of this deliciousness sitting in the refrigerator, ready to be eaten up when you can't bear the thought of turning on a stove!

    Bright, colourful, vibrant and fresh, this crowd-pleasing dish is a complete meal in itself.

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe

    Making the Summer Pasta Salad

    • Start with cooking your pasta of choice. I used fusilli here.
    • Then, toss is any freshly chopped vegetable of your choice - bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onions. But you can use whatever you have at home - broccoli, spinach, zucchini, corn, grilled eggplant, peas, sun-dried tomatoes, avocados. 
    • Optional - for an extra touch, you can top off the salad with cheese. My go-to cheeses here are either crumbled feta, grated parmesan or cubed mozzarella. 

    Vegetables for Summer Pasta Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta  salad recipe

     

    Note about prepping pasta - when you're done boiling it in salted water, drain the pasta then rinse with cold water and toss it in some olive oil, to avoid the pasta sticking together.

    I used some tangy onion slivers in this, here is how you can make them:

    Soak one large sliced onion in one part red wine vinegar, one part warm water, half teaspoon salt & sugar for at least 20 mins.  Then I drain it off and am left with an amazing pickled onion.  This goes in salads,  on sandwiches, and is eaten with our everyday vegetables and dal - super versatile and delicious!

    The Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Last but not least, the dressing. This is my go-to quick salad dressing -   robust garlic flavour, aromatic fresh basil, sharp lemon juice, all gets rounded off nicely with sweet tangy balsamic vinegar!

    Combine all of the ingredients  in a mortar pestle or a food processor and pulse till you have a coarse sauce. Taste to adjust and then toss your salad with this dressing!

    Salad dressing for Summer Pasta Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta  salad recipe

    Why Make Your Own Salad Dressing

    Making your own salad dressings is really simple.  It's also far healthier and cheaper than that bottled stuff available in the market.  It offers you the versatility to change the taste per your liking, you get to control the sugar and sodium content and best of all, its made without any preservatives or additives.

    Ready to mix the Summer Pasta Salad w/ Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe

    Assembly 

    Now simply combine the cooked pasta, chopped veggies, and the gorgeous vinaigrette. Top with some microgreens if you like. Or some cheese.  And serve at room temperature or cold. However you like it. 

    This is a great salad to make ahead and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. 

    I hope you give this delicious summer pasta salad a try - make it your own with personalised touches and using up the seasonal veggies you have at home. Keep it simple and enjoy!

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe

    More Easy & Healthy Salad Recipes: 

     

    • Apple Walnut Salad
    • Watermelon Feta Salad
    • Peach Mozzarella Salad
    • Apricot Pasta Salad
    • Greek Salad
    • Buckwheat Tabbouleh Salad

    I’d love to hear from you! Please tag me on Instagram @tashasartisanfoods, using the hashtag #tashasartisanfoods. You can also follow me on INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST for more fabulous recipes! Do subscribe to Tasha’s Artisan Foods so you’ll never miss a recipe!

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe
    Print Recipe

    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    Easy, colorful, and a sure shot crowd pleaser, this Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette is a firm favorite in my house!
    Course: Salad
    Keyword: pasta salad, summer pasta salad, vegan pasta salad
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories:
    Author: Natasha Minocha

    Ingredients

    • 300 gms Pasta I used fusilli. Please feel free to use any pasta you prefer.
    • 1 Red Bell Pepper, julienned
    • 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, julienned
    • 2 Cucumbers, julienned
    • 1 Onion, pickled
    • 100 gms Cherry Tomatoes
    • Handful of parsley

    Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    • 20/25 Fresh Basil Leaves
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tbsp Lemon juice
    • 5 tbsp Extra virgin Olive oil
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • Microgreens for topping ( optional)

    Instructions

    • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta as per the directions. Drain it and keep aside.
    • Once the pasta is cooled, add in the vegetables - red and yellow bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and pickled onions.
    • Toss with the vinaigrette and sprinkle with parsley. Top with microgreens. Serve cold or at room temperature. Enjoy!

    Vinaigrette

    • Combine all ingredients in your mortar pestle or food processor. Pulse till a coarse sauce is formed. Taste and adjust for seasoning.
    Summer Pasta Salad w/ Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette | Easy vegan pasta salad recipe
    « Kung Pao Cauliflower
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. kanika kochhar says

      June 05, 2015 at 8:53 am

      Hi Nutty buddy!

      entertaining young guests at home today .....had time in between and went on your blog...
      thanks to you have learnt about couscous and quinoa and am using them in salads .

      H

      Reply
    2. kanika kochhar says

      June 05, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Entertaining young guests for a day spend....had time in between and went to read your blog.
      Can identify with one salad which the family loves now and thanks to u we are using couscous and quinoa in our food!
      Did the latest salad with couscous ,mint leaves,basil leaves fresh from my balcony!!
      with mango,cucumber,capsicum ,tomato relish -loads of it ,with olives , lime juice,balsamic vinaiger and a dash of teriyaki sauce !
      Cold from the chiller -a happy treat!

      going to try mango yogurt next....

      Reply
      • natashaminocha says

        June 05, 2015 at 1:42 pm

        Thank you so much Kanika!! And your salad sounds absolutely delicious!
        xx

        Reply
    3. Easyfoodsmith says

      May 01, 2021 at 4:44 pm

      Your salad certainly screams of summer...so pretty and fresh.

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        May 05, 2021 at 12:36 pm

        Thank you so much! xoxo

        Reply
    4. Drew G says

      June 02, 2021 at 12:13 am

      5 stars
      this was so easy to make, turned out very good! thank you for sharing

      Reply
      • Natasha Minocha says

        June 04, 2021 at 12:38 pm

        Thank you so much, Drew!xx

        Reply

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