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30-Minute Family Pasta Salad Recipe Easy Lemon Vinaigrette Meal

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A quick, fresh, and family-approved pasta salad with a bright lemon vinaigrette, perfect for busy weeknights and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz (340g) rotini or bowtie pasta
  • 1.5 cups (250g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium (150g) cucumber, diced
  • 1 small (120g) red bell pepper, diced
  • ¼ small (30g) red onion, finely diced
  • ¼ cup (10g) fresh parsley, chopped
  • ½ cup (75g) feta cheese, crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons (45ml) fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup (60ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste (start with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside.
  2. While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, finely dice the red onion, and chop the parsley. Place all in a large mixing bowl.
  3. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together fresh lemon juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until fully combined and slightly thickened.
  4. Add the cooled pasta to the veggies in the mixing bowl. Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the top and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
  5. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the salad and give it one last gentle toss. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed.
  6. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Notes

[‘Rinse pasta under cold water to stop cooking and prevent mushiness.’, ‘Adjust lemon juice to taste for desired brightness.’, ‘Use fresh minced garlic for best flavor.’, ‘Chill salad for 30 minutes before serving to meld flavors, or serve immediately.’, ‘Customize veggies based on preference or seasonality.’, ‘Keep dressing separate if storing salad for longer than a day to prevent sogginess.’, ‘Make ahead by prepping pasta and vinaigrette separately; toss before serving.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, lemon vinaigrette, family meal, quick dinner, easy salad, healthy pasta salad, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/30-minute-family-pasta-salad-recipe-easy-lemon-vinaigrette-meal/