Easy Pasta Salad with Fresh Veggies in 20 Minutes
This vibrant, flavor-packed pasta salad is perfect for anyone in need of a nutritious yet satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ozspaghetti noodles – A perfect base for this pasta salad; you can use gluten-free pasta as needed.
- 1 cupcherry tomatoes, halved – These add a burst of color and flavor to your pasta salad.
- 1cucumber, diced – For a crisp and refreshing crunch.
- 1/2 cupred onion, chopped – Adds a hint of sharpness.
- 1 cupbroccoli florets, blanched – A nutritious addition full of fiber and vitamins.
- 1/4 cupblack olives, sliced – To provide a slightly briny flavor balance.
- 1/4 cupolive oil – A healthy fat that enhances the dressing.
- 2 tbspred wine vinegar – Adds a tangy twist to the dressing.
- 1 tspdried oregano – Lends a Mediterranean hint to the flavor profile.
- Salt and pepper, to taste – Essential for enhancing the overall flavor.
Instructions
- Start by boiling your spaghetti noodles according to the package instructions. It’s important to add a pinch of salt to the water which will help enhance the flavor of the pasta. Keep the water boiling until the noodles reach the desired tenderness, typically around 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, drain the noodles in a colander and rinse them under cold water. This step helps cool the pasta down and prevent it from becoming mushy when mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
- While the pasta cooks, it’s the perfect time to prep your fresh vegetables. Begin by halving the cherry tomatoes, dicing the cucumber into bite-sized pieces, and chopping the red onion to your desired size. For the broccoli, blanch it by steaming or boiling for about 2-3 minutes until vibrant green, then quickly transfer it to an ice bath to halt the cooking process. Finally, slice the black olives and set them aside for easy assembly later on.
- In a small mixing bowl, measure and combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Use a whisk to blend all the ingredients until you have a smooth and cohesive dressing. This simple yet flavorful dressing will enhance the overall taste of your pasta salad by tying all the ingredients together.
- In a large mixing bowl, take the cooled spaghetti noodles and add the prepped vegetables and olives. Pour the dressing over the entire mixture and toss gently to ensure that everything gets evenly coated in the dressing. Be careful not to mush the vegetables; you want to maintain their crispness and texture while incorporating them into the pasta salad.
- Your Easy Pasta Salad with Fresh Veggies is now ready to be served! You can enjoy it immediately, or for a flavor boost, refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes.
Notes
Feel free to customize the dressing by adding a touch of honey or mustard for extra flavor.
Nutrition
- Calories: 270 kcal
- Protein: 7 g