Sundried tomato pasta salad-a hearty vegetarian salad bursting with flavors. The best part of this pasta salad is the dressing made with sundried tomatoes and walnuts which gives it a taste similar to pesto pasta salad. It's delicious!
If you are looking for some easy and tasty pasta salad recipes to try this summer then this sundried tomato pasta salad recipe is something you must try.
This vegetarian Italian salad is loved by everyone and people always end up eating it extra. It's full of flavors and textures.
The best part of this salad is its delicious creamy dressing made by grinding sundried tomatoes and walnuts with other dressing ingredients. This dressing gives the pasta salad a taste and texture similar to pesto pasta salad.
What's needed to make this sundried tomato pasta salad?
To make this vegetarian pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, you will need the ingredients shown below:
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
- Pasta: I have used farfalle, feel free to use any short pasta of your choice like fusilli, penne, etc.
- Sundried tomatoes: Use sundried tomatoes in olive oil. I have used whole sundried tomatoes, you can also use the sliced ones.
- Walnuts: Pine nuts also taste amazing in this pasta salad.
- Cilantro: I prefer cilantro so have used that, you can also use parsley or fresh basil.
- Balsamic vinegar: You can also use red wine vinegar, regular white vinegar, or just some lemon juice.
- Brown sugar: Brown sugar balances the tanginess of tomatoes and vinegar. You can also use honey or any other sweetener of choice.
How to make (step by step instructions)?
Step 1: Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on its packet.
Step 2: Strain the pasta. Reserve some pasta water and transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl.
Step 3: Add baby spinach and cover the leaves with hot pasta so that the leaves get slightly cooked.
Step 4: Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes.
Step 5: Gently mix and keep the bowl aside while we prepare the dressing. The pasta will also reach room temperature by then.
Step 6: Put two whole sundried tomatoes, garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of walnut kernels, chili flakes, oregano, basil, ground black pepper, salt, dijon mustard, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water, into a grinding jar or food processor.
Step 7: Pulse to make a paste.
Step 8: Add sliced onion, cherry tomato halves, sliced sundried tomatoes, sliced olives, chopped walnuts, chopped parsley, or cilantro to the salad bowl.
Step 9: Add the sundried tomato-walnut paste to the bowl.
Step 10: Add an additional 1⁄4 cup of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes to the salad bowl.
Step 11: Gently toss until everything gets combined.
Step 12: Before serving, add feta and more fresh parsley or cilantro.
Your hearty Mediterranean-style sundried tomato pasta salad is ready to be enjoyed.
How to serve?
Serve this pasta salad cold or warm. It's a great option for picnics, potlucks, and packed lunches.
Sundried tomato pasta salad is very filling and can be enjoyed as a meal too.
If you want, you can serve it with a side dish like bruschetta, a sandwich, a burger, or cheese and crackers.
Storing tips
Refrigerate it in an airtight container and store for 3-4 days. It's best to add feta only when you plan to serve.
Don't freeze this salad.
Recipe tips and tricks
- Cook pasta al dente. If you overcook them, they will start breaking when you toss them in the salad.
- Feel free to use any short pasta of your choice.
- Instead of balsamic vinegar, you can also use white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice.
- Adjust the quantity of seasonings to suit your taste.
- Instead of walnuts, pinenuts can also be used in this recipe.
Vegan notes: To make a vegan version of this salad, just skip feta. It still tastes delicious.
Frequently asked questions
Use any short pasta of choice like farfalle, penne, fusilli, or rigatoni to make this pasta salad.
No, we have used sundried tomatoes which are already soaked in olive oil so they are not required to be soaked in water.
Other pasta salad recipes
If you want to try more pasta salad recipes then the following links are worth trying out:
More easy vegetarian pasta recipes
Looking for more easy vegetarian or vegan pasta recipes? Don't miss to check out the following links:
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Recipe
Sundried tomato pasta salad
Equipment
- 1 Large cooking pot
- 1 Large salad bowl
Ingredients
- 375 grams farfalle
- 220 grams sundried tomatoes in oil chopped or sliced
- 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes cut into half
- 2 cups baby spinach
- 1 medium-sized red onion thinly sliced
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup fresh parsley/ cilantro for garnishing
- ½ cup chopped or crumbled feta around 100 grams
- ¼ cup sliced kalamata olives
- 2+ 2 tablespoons chopped walnut kernels
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper adjust to taste
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Water to cook pasta
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente as per the instructions given on its packet. Preserve some pasta water, it will be used in the salad dressing.
- Put the cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add baby spinach and 1-2 tablespoons of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes. Gently mix and cover the spinach leaves with hot pasta so they get slightly cooked.
- Add sliced onion, cherry tomatoes, sliced sundried tomatoes, olives, chopped walnuts, chopped parsley, or cilantro.
- In a grinding jar, put two whole sundried tomatoes, garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of walnuts, chili flakes, oregano, basil, black pepper, salt, dijon mustard, brown sugar, balsamic vinegar, and 2-3 tablespoons of pasta water preserved in step one. Pulse to make a paste.
- Add the paste to the salad bowl.
- Also, add around ¼ cup of oil from the jar of sundried tomatoes and add to the salad. Gently toss until everything gets nicely mixed.
- Before serving, add feta and more fresh parsley or cilantro.
Video
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente. If you overcook them, they will start breaking when you toss them in the salad.
- Feel free to use any short pasta of your choice.
- Instead of balsamic vinegar, you can also use white vinegar, red wine vinegar, or lemon juice.
- Adjust the quantity of seasonings to suit your taste.
- Pinenuts can also be used instead of walnuts to make this salad.
- More recipe tips and tricks are shared in the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
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