Vegan Pasta Salad (Printable Version)

Chilled pasta combined with crisp vegetables, bright vinaigrette, and non-dairy cheese, perfect for warm days.

# Ingredients Required:

→ Dressing

01 - ⅔ to ¾ cup Italian vinaigrette salad dressing, oil-free version recommended

→ Pasta

02 - 450 grams dry pasta (fusilli, rotini, or farfalle), gluten-free if required

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 1 large bell pepper (orange, yellow, or red), chopped or thinly sliced
05 - 1 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped
06 - 1 medium English cucumber, thinly sliced
07 - 225 grams cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
08 - 400 grams canned artichoke hearts, drained and quartered or chopped
09 - 100 grams sliced black olives

→ Legumes

10 - 425 grams canned cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained

→ Condiments and Herbs

11 - 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar for pickling onion
12 - ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or basil, plus extra for garnish
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste
14 - Vegan Parmesan or Feta cheese alternative (quantity as preferred)

# Guide to Cooking:

01 - Whisk or pour the Italian vinaigrette dressing, preferably the oil-free version. In a small bowl, combine the diced onion with 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar and set aside to pickle.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until fully tender. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it.
03 - While the pasta cooks, wash, peel, and chop all vegetables and drain the canned ingredients. Return the cooled pasta to the pot, add the pickled onion, chopped vegetables, chickpeas, olives, and artichoke hearts.
04 - Add approximately ⅔ cup of the dressing to the mixture. Toss thoroughly to coat, taste, and adjust seasoning with additional dressing, salt, or pepper as desired.
05 - Refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld. Just before serving, stir in vegan Parmesan or Feta and garnish with extra fresh herbs. Serve chilled.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - For the oil-free dressing, prepare a double batch as it is lighter in flavor and quantity may need to be doubled.
02 - Ensure pasta is fully cooked and tender since it will be served cold.

Return