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Vibrant Summer Pasta Salad

Vibrant Summer Pasta Salad: Fresh Flavors for Sunny Days

A delightful Vibrant Summer Pasta Salad packed with crunchy vegetables and zesty lemon dressing, perfect for sunny days.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salads
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 8 ounces Small Shell Pasta or Orecchiette Can swap for penne or fusilli.
For the Vegetables
  • 1 medium Cucumber Diced.
  • 1 medium Red Bell Pepper Diced.
  • 1 medium Yellow Bell Pepper Diced.
  • 1 cup Fresh Pomegranate Seeds Can substitute with halved grapes or dried cranberries.
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley Chopped.
For the Dressing
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice Freshly squeezed is best.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt Adjust to taste.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper Freshly ground preferred.

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Colander
  • mixing bowl
  • whisk

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, then cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, around 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  2. Transfer the cooled pasta to a mixing bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prevent clumping.
  3. Dice the cucumber and bell peppers, then add them along with pomegranate seeds to the pasta.
  4. Whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
  5. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture and toss gently until coated.
  6. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary, then cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 5gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gSodium: 400mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 10IUVitamin C: 50mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 6mg

Notes

For best results, use fresh ingredients and chill to enhance flavor integration. Add raw vegetables for extra crunch if desired.

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