If you are looking for some easy and tasty pasta salad recipes to try this summer then this sundried tomato pasta salad recipe is something you must try. This vegetarian Italian salad is loved by everyone and people always end up eating it extra. It’s full of flavors and textures. The best part of this salad is its delicious creamy dressing made by grinding sundried tomatoes and walnuts with other dressing ingredients. This dressing gives the pasta salad a taste and texture similar to pesto pasta salad.
What’s needed to make this sundried tomato pasta salad?
To make this vegetarian pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, you will need the ingredients shown below:
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
Pasta: I have used farfalle, feel free to use any short pasta of your choice like fusilli, penne, etc. Sundried tomatoes: Use sundried tomatoes in olive oil. I have used whole sundried tomatoes, you can also use the sliced ones. Walnuts: Pine nuts also taste amazing in this pasta salad. Cilantro: I prefer cilantro so have used that, you can also use parsley or fresh basil. Balsamic vinegar: You can also use red wine vinegar, regular white vinegar, or just some lemon juice. Brown sugar: Brown sugar balances the tanginess of tomatoes and vinegar. You can also use honey or any other sweetener of choice.
How to make (step by step instructions)?
Step 1: Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on its packet. Step 2: Strain the pasta. Reserve some pasta water and transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl. Step 3: Add baby spinach and cover the leaves with hot pasta so that the leaves get slightly cooked. Step 4: Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes. Step 5: Gently mix and keep the bowl aside while we prepare the dressing. The pasta will also reach room temperature by then. Step 6: Put two whole sundried tomatoes, garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of walnut kernels, chili flakes, oregano, basil, ground black pepper, salt, dijon mustard, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water, into a grinding jar or food processor. Step 7: Pulse to make a paste. Step 8: Add sliced onion, cherry tomato halves, sliced sundried tomatoes, sliced olives, chopped walnuts, chopped parsley, or cilantro to the salad bowl. Step 9: Add the sundried tomato-walnut paste to the bowl. Step 10: Add an additional 1⁄4 cup of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes to the salad bowl. Step 11: Gently toss until everything gets combined. Step 12: Before serving, add feta and more fresh parsley or cilantro. Your hearty Mediterranean-style sundried tomato pasta salad is ready to be enjoyed.
How to serve?
Serve this pasta salad cold or warm. It’s a great option for picnics, potlucks, and packed lunches. Sundried tomato pasta salad is very filling and can be enjoyed as a meal too. If you want, you can serve it with a side dish like bruschetta, a sandwich, a burger, or cheese and crackers. Vegan notes: To make a vegan version of this salad, just skip feta. It still tastes delicious. Don’t freeze this salad.
Other pasta salad recipes
If you want to try more pasta salad recipes then the following links are worth trying out:
Pesto orzo salad Rainbow orzo salad Pasta salad in cranberry sauce
More easy vegetarian pasta recipes
Looking for more easy vegetarian or vegan pasta recipes? Don’t miss to check out the following links:
Cream cheese pasta Eggplant pasta Pasta with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes Vegetarian baked pasta
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Recipe
