Ingredients
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8 oz whole-wheat Fusilli Pasta
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2 cups Cherry Tomatoesrinsed and halved
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1 large Green Bell Pepperrinsed and sliced in pieces ¼ inch wide by 2 inches long
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½ cup Red Onionthinly sliced
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1 medium Zucchinirinsed and shredded finely or sliced into small chunks (about 1 cup)
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15½ oz low-sodium Chickpeasabout 1 can, drained and rinsed
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1 Tablespoon Basil - Freshrinsed, dried, and cut into thin strips
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¼ teaspoon Salt
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1/8 teaspoon ground black Pepper
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1 Tablespoon extra virgin Olive Oil
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2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
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½ cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
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Variations
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Instead of fresh basil, use 1 tsp Basil - Dried
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Instead of chickpeas, use Garbanzo Beans
Steps for Cold Fusilli Pasta Salad
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1
Done
4 Minutes
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Prepare the ingredientsRinse the veggies. Halve the tomatoes, slice the green pepper in pieces ¼ inch wide by 2 inches long, thinly slice the red onion, shred finely the zucchini or slice into small chunks (about 1 cup), and cut basil into thin strips. |
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2
Done
14 Minutes
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Prepare the pastaIn a 4-quart saucepan, bring 3 quarts of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta, and cook according to package directions for the shortest recommended time, about 8–9 minutes. Drain. Rinse pasta under cold running water to cool, about 3 minutes. |
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3
Done
1 Minute
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Prepare the veggie 'bed'Place all the vegetables and beans in a large salad serving bowl. Season with basil, salt, and pepper. |
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4
Done
3 Minutes
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Combine them allAdd the cooled pasta. Combine olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl. Mix until completely blended. Pour over vegetables and pasta. Mix gently until well coated. |
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5
Done
1 Minute
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Divide & EnjoyDivide into four equal portions. Top each with 2 tablespoons of shredded parmesan cheese. |
Additional Info for Cold Fusilli Pasta Salad
This fusilli pasta with summer vegetables is a must-eat salad during the hot season. The recipe’s ingredients are perfectly chosen just to give a rainbow design.
Content on this recipe…
About Cold fusilli pasta with summer vegetables
This salad with cold fusilli pasta & summer vegetables was so good that I’ve been eating it about twice a day!
Summer isn’t complete without some tasty and satisfying cold fusilli pasta, am I right? This salad is loaded with a variety of veggies, seasoned with spices and Italian dressing. It’s so fresh and delicious, it could easily be served as a main dish instead of a side one.
Don’t be intimidated by the long ingredient list. This cold fusilli pasta with summer vegetables comes together really quickly. Use whatever vegetables you can get or like, but for a better design, try to have most of the ‘rainbow colors‘.
You can serve it right away or you can cover it and let it refrigerate for a few hours beforehand. I prefer to let it sit because the veggies and noodles soak up the flavor from the dressing and get extra tender. Either way, it’ll taste delicious!
Salad’s Health Benefits
Cold fusilli pasta with summer vegetables is one of the most popular salads during the hot season. It’s a healthy meal, easy to prepare, and has many variations.
Pasta is a meal with many properties, which makes it a complete dish and essential to include in our diets. It is packed full of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and sugars. In addition to supplying vitamins in groups B and K, another of its advantages is that it can be made in different ways: lasagna, cannelloni, macaroni, etc. The blend of carbs and protein is perfect for those who are more health-conscious than others.
When making cold fusilli pasta with summer vegetables, it’s important to choose ingredients that aren’t very caloric, otherwise, pasta won’t be a healthy meal. For the same reason, you shouldn’t dress the salad with sauces, and if you choose to do so, use light, homemade ones.
Overall, this salad is a surprising treat that fr too many people overlook. It’s not only easy to prepare, but it requires only minimal ingredients and tastes so fresh and delicious. Another perk is you can make it with any veggies you have on hand already so minimal shopping is needed.
Because almost all ingredients are raw and uncooked, I’ll take them one by one to show you the most important health benefits of each.
I included tomatoes due to their great source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.
Onion contains fiber and folic acid, B vitamins that help the body make healthy new cells, and are great whether they’re raw or cooked, though raw onions have higher levels of organic sulfur compounds that provide many benefits. These incredible vegetables have also minerals that aid in weight loss.
Notes and Tips
- Storing? If you are figuring that you are going to have leftovers I recommend not dousing the whole salad in your dressing. Cold fusilli pasta with dressing tends to wilt faster than without dressings. Ideally, store the salad separately from the dressing. This will last about 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Make-ahead? You can cut your veggies and even make your pasta ahead of time. Assemble all of your ingredients right before serving.
- Here’s even more good news. Cold fusilli pasta with summer vegetables gets better over time. Letting the pasta and veggies sit in the dressing for a while makes a huge difference in flavor. I take the same approach when making potato salad.
- You can make this summer salad and keep it in the fridge for up to five days, which makes this the perfect side dish to prepare in advance for easy meals or for big parties and family gettogethers.
- Try my special Fresh Summer Salad for greater health benefits.
