Description
A vibrant and protein-packed pasta salad featuring whole wheat pasta, fresh veggies, and a flavorful dressing, perfect for a nutritious meal.
Ingredients
- Whole Wheat Pasta (or gluten-free alternative)
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Bell Peppers
- Red Onion
- Chickpeas or Lentils
- Italian Dressing
- Parmesan Cheese
- Fresh Basil or Spinach
Instructions
- Boil salted water and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss cooked pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, and red onion.
- Add chickpeas or lentils and mix gently.
- Drizzle Italian dressing over the salad, mixing carefully to combine.
- Fold in Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs until everything is well combined.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days, allowing flavors to meld together.
Notes
This salad gets better with time as the flavors marry. Feel free to customize with additional vegetables or proteins.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg