Green Pasta Salad
Green Pasta Salad
This green goddess pasta salad recipe is the most popular healthy pasta salad there is! It’s simply the best if you want a tasty, creamy, and healthy side dish that’ll please a crowd.
This green goddess pasta salad recipe is the most popular healthy pasta salad there is! It’s simply the best if you want a tasty, creamy, and healthy side dish that’ll please a crowd.
The key to this pasta salad is, of course, the green dressing that’s poured right on top of the pasta. It’s a healthy pasta salad dressing that contains lentils, peas, and herbs! But–it’s tasty! You would never know that this green goddess pasta salad dressing has so many hidden veggies in it.
What is the dressing for this green goddess pasta salad?
The dressing for this healthy pasta salad contains a few tasty veggies and herbs that make for a delicious green sauce! The main ingredients are:
Lentils: I used a can of lentils, drained and rinsed
Peas: I used frozen peas that I thawed to room temperature
Herbs: Use whatever you have on hand! I did a mix of parsley and basil
Garlic
Salt and pepper
How do you make pasta salad better?
In my opinion, the key to a tasty pasta salad is in the dressing. You want your pasta salad dressing to be creamy and have a bit of tang to it, since that’s why we all love pasta salad in the first place!
Pasta salad dressing is uniquely tangy, so be sure to taste your dressing as you make it to check if the flavors are balanced. Add a bit more lemon juice or apple cider vinegar if it needs more tang, or a hit of salt to bring all of the flavors together.
Can you make pasta salad the day before?
Yes, you can certainly make pasta salad the day before! Pasta salad is traditionally served cold or at room temperature. This healthy pasta salad, though, tastes best at room temp. You can certainly make it the day before, add a splash of water to it and warm it up in the microwave for a minute or two before serving.
Is pasta salad healthy?
Hmm… I typically don’t like to categorize food as healthy or unhealthy. I think eating a balanced diet is much more important than scrutinizing individual foods or food groups.
This green pasta salad recipe is packed with hidden veggies, which will always be good for you no matter what! The base for our vegan green goddess sauce is a combination of lentils, peas, and herbs, which are nutritionally dense foods.
Can pasta salad be heated?
Sure! You can certainly heat up this pasta salad and eat it warm. I prefer it at room temperature, but you can try it both ways!
Green Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 c peas
- 1 c lentils
- 1 c fresh herbs (I used a combo of basil and parsley)
- 1/4 c olive oil
- 1/4 c non-dairy milk
- 3 garlic cloves
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp salt
- 8 oz short pasta–cooked, rinsed, and drained
- 1 celery stalk, minced
- 1/2 red onion, minced
- 1/2 bell pepper, minced
Instructions
- Blend all of the sauce ingredients together in a food processor until smooth. Add a bit more milk if the sauce is too thick.
- Taste and adjust spices. Add a pinch more salt to bring out the flavors, or a bit more apple cider vinegar if the sauce needs more tang.
- Put the pasta in a large bowl. Add in the veggies and give it a quick stir.
- Pour the green pasta sauce on top of the pasta and mix it together until fully incorporated.
- Serve immediately. The pasta tastes best slightly warm, or at room temp.
I started salt n sprinkles to show that making good food is both fun and easy to do. My recipes are mostly plant-based, and always delicious. I know you'll find just what you're looking for!