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Vegan Pasta Salad with Italian Balsamic Dressing served in a bowl
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3 from 2 votes

Vegan Pasta Salad with Italian Balsamic Dressing

Watch the recipe video above. This Vegan Pasta Salad is packed with five cups of veggies and tossed in a light, flavorful Italian balsamic dressing that makes it a firm summer favorite. Its light and healthy, and is a meal on its own.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Salads
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 Portions
Author: Richa

Ingredients

  • For the Salad
  • 170 grams Macaroni or any other Pasta
  • 2 teaspoon Salt
  • 3/4 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
  • 1 Cucumber diced
  • 1 cup Red and Yellow Bell Peppers diced
  • 1 cup Salad Greens / Baby Arugula / Baby Spinach mixed
  • 1/2 cup Broccoli Florets blanched
  • 1/4 cup Olives sliced
  • 1/2 cup Red Onions sliced
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • For the Salad Dressing
  • 1/3 cup Olive Oil extra virgin
  • 2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup / Honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon Italian Seasoning

Instructions

  • Add salt to a large pot of boiling water and cook the pasta till al dente. Drain and set aside to cool.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing. Alternatively, you can also add all the ingredients to a jar and shake the jar with lid on till the dressing is combined.
  • Add all the ingredients (except spinach/salad greens if serving later) for the salad to a large bowl, and toss well with the dressing.
  • Refrigerate for a couple of hours for the flavors to meld together. Add the spinach/salad greens right before serving and toss well. Serve cold.

Notes

  • Grilled zucchini, corn, roasted mushrooms etc are also great additions to this cold salad
  • Add the spinach/salad greens right before serving so that they don't wilt completely and stay fresh
  • Small pasta like macaroni, fusilli, bow tie etc taste best in this salad
  • Storage: The salad can be prepped a day ahead, and then tossed with the dressing an hour before serving
  • Serve this macaroni salad with grilled chicken or fish, roasted corn on the cob, burgers or steak if you want to use it as a side dish

Nutrition

Calories: 405kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1607mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2164IU | Vitamin C: 71mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg