Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

A pasta salad loaded with vegetables and topped with feta crumbles and fresh basil.

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This summer pasta salad is perfect for warm spring and summer days. It's loaded with tender pasta, fresh veggies, and salty feta, all coated in a creamy Italian dressing. It's fresh, flavorful and perfect for a light lunch, or to take to your next potluck!

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: creamy pasta salad, Vegetable Pasta Salad

Servings: servings

Calories: 206kcal

Equipment

Large Mixing Bowl

Ingredients

1 TBS salt
12 oz dried rotini pasta
2 cups arugula
2 ears corn (steamed, and sliced off the cobb
1/2 red onion (diced, about 3/4 cup)
1 bell pepper (diced, about 3/4 cup)
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup snap peas (ends popped off)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
1/2 cup crumbled feta
12 oz Italian dressing (minced)
2 TBS finely chopped basil
2 TBS finely chopped parsley
1/2 tsp salt (to taste)
1/4 tsp coarse pepper (to taste)

Instructions

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt to the water. Add the pasta and cook it until al dente according to directions on the package, about 1-2 minutes less than the time on the package. 1 TBS salt, 12 oz dried rotini pasta
Prepare the veggies by slicing and dicing as needed. 2 ears corn, 2 cups arugula, 1/2 red onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 cup diced cucumber , 1 cup snap peas, 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Add the pasta vegetables, and cheese to a large bowl and stir them together. 1/2 cup crumbled feta
Add the dressing, fresh herbs, and salt and pepper and toss together. Add more seasonings as needed to taste. 12 oz Italian dressing, 2 TBS finely chopped basil , 2 TBS finely chopped parsley, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp coarse pepper
Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge to chill for at least 1 hour, up to overnight to let the flavors meddle.

Notes

Salt your pasta water - Salting the pasta water will keep the actual pasta flavorful. I like to add a couple Tablespoons of salt to the boiling water, then add the uncooked pasta.

Cook to Al Dente - We want our pasta to be cooked to al dente or about 1 to 2 minutes less than the shortest time suggested on the pasta package. This will keep the pasta from being too soft, especially as it soaks up the Italian dressing.

Nutrition