Balsamic Pasta Salad
Balsamic Pasta Salad is a salad recipe ready in 25 min. It makes 4 servings, each 460 kcal with 14 g protein. Beginner level, 16 ingredients, and it keeps for work lunches.
Recipe by @bitesofberi, adapted and measured by Cookpath.
- 25 min15 min hands-on
- Beginnerlevel
- 460kcal a serving
- 14 gprotein
What is Balsamic Pasta Salad
A cold pasta salad with rocket, cherry and sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta and toasted pine nuts in a balsamic dressing. Made for barbecues and potlucks.
- Salads · Vegetarian
- Boiling
- Knife basics
- Work lunch
How to make Balsamic Pasta Salad
Tips from the cook
- Let the pasta cool before you mix it; rinse it with cold water if needed.
- Toast the pine nuts on medium or medium-low heat: on high heat they burn very quickly.
- 1 tbsp maple syrup gives the dressing a subtle sweetness; use more or less to taste.
- Chill it before serving so the pasta soaks up the dressing.
Step by step with timers, in your shopping list in one tap.
Meal prep and storage
Still good after 2 to 3 days in the fridge, cold or microwaved.
Keeps up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
See this week’s meal prep plan on the blog, or plan your own week in the app.
Balsamic Pasta Salad substitutions
Out of something, or cooking around an allergy. Each swap was checked against a source.
Pasta1 option
- Gluten-free pasta (corn/rice or corn-rice blend) 1:1 by weight; cook per packet, slightly al dente
Soups (goes soft fast) and long simmers.
Kalamata olives2 options
- Capers (rinsed) 1 tsp per 1 tbsp olives
More concentrated.
- Sun-dried tomatoes 1:1 with a pinch of salt
Sweeter.
Feta2 options
- Dairy-free feta (tofu-based) 1:1
Still contains soy.
- Firm tofu marinated in lemon, oregano and salt 1:1
Not for melting.
Still contains soy.
Red onion2 options
- Spring onion (white part), thin use 2 spring onions per 1/4 red onion
Milder; still allium.
- Leave out leave out (optional salad garnish only)
Pine nuts2 options
- Sunflower seeds, lightly toasted 1:1 by weight
Stronger flavour, greener pesto.
- Pumpkin seeds, toasted 1:1 by weight
Process longer.
Dijon mustard2 options
- Whole grain mustard 1:1
Texture.
Still contains mustard.
- Honey + vinegar (for mustard allergy) 1 tsp dijon = 1/2 tsp honey + 1/2 tsp vinegar
No mustard heat, no emulsifying.
Serve it with
- Grilled meat
- Pan-seared salmon
- Roasted asparagus
