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    Home » Recipes » Salad Recipes

    Published: Jun 25, 2018 by Dina-Marie · Modified: Nov 13, 2021 6 Comments This post may contain affiliate links

    Zesty Simple Pasta Salad

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    A zesty and simple pasta salad recipe that is made with beans, olives, tomatoes and drizzled with a flavor packed dressing. This easy recipe is great all year round. It's light and delicious!

    Simple Pasta Salad Recipe shown served in two white bowls and forks with serving bowl filled with salad in background

    When you hear Pasta Salad, do you think "summertime meal"? If you answered "yes", this Zesty Simple Pasta Salad Recipe will change your mind!

    Yes, it is a cool refreshing meal in a salad. But, it is also so delicious, you will not want to wait until the summertime to enjoy it! Plus, it is budget friendly!

    This Simple Pasta Salad recipe is a great make ahead meal!

    I admit, I tend to have this pasta salad recipe more in the summer but, it really is great anytime of the year. It just seems that during the summer, when vineyard work is at its height, a cool meal that can be prepared beforehand is a definite win!

    Between vineyard and garden, I spend as little time in the kitchen as possible and concentrate on meals that can be made the night before. This also helps keep the kitchen cool during the heat of the day.

    I'm telling you, this Simple Pasta Salad recipe is a win-win!

    Simple Pasta Salad Recipe shown served in two white bowls and forks with serving bowl filled with salad in background

    This Simple Pasta Salad Is Great For Feeding The Whole Family On A Budget!

    To make it more economical, I use dried beans which I soak overnight before cooking. Grains, beans and seeds have phytic acid in the bran and hulls which is an anti-nutrient.

    Phytic acid binds with essential minerals (like calcium) and prevents the absorption of those minerals in your body. That was the bad new. The good news is that phytic acid can be neutralized through soaking - for more information and the how-to's, see Proper Grain Preparation.

    Having a large family means cooking large quantities. Feeding a large family on a budget can be especially challenging.  I normally take a recipe and triple or quadruple it.

    If you have ever tried to take a recipe and multiply it, you know that many times the spices are just not quite right. Often you cannot just multiply the spices- it turns out too spicy. Taste testing certainly has its place in my kitchen – a little bit of this and a little bit of that, taste it and repeat!

    With pasta, it is so easy to throw more noodles in the pot and adjust the other ingredients accordingly – tasting as I go, of course! Pasta is economical, healthy and filling – that is important with teenage farm boys!

    Tips for Making This Zesty Simple Pasta Salad Recipe:

    • I use store bought rotini pasta but homemade, regular, specialty or gluten free pasta works well too.
    • You can use store bought Italian dressing or basic homemade dressing but the Raisin Vinaigrette is absolutely delicious on it!

    Zesty Simple Pasta Salad Recipe Step by Step

    • Prepare pasta according to package directions. (not shown)
    • Add all ingredients together. Photos 1-4
    • Add dressing. Photo 5
    • Mix well and adjust spices as desired and add more dressing if necessary. Photo 6
    • Serve and Enjoy!
     
    Steps shown for making the Simple Pasta Salad recipe
     
     If you’ve tried this Simple Pasta Salad Recipe or any other recipe on Cultured Palate please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, YouTube and TWITTER.

    📋 Recipe

    Simple Pasta Salad Recipe shown served in two white bowls and forks with serving bowl filled with salad in background

    Zesty Simple Pasta Salad

    Cultured Palate

    Pasta salad is a great "cool" meal for warm summer days.

    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe
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    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins

    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American

    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 554 kcal

    Ingredients

      

    • 1 lb garden rotini pasta
    • 1 lb dry kidney beans or 2 cans
    • 1 can black olives chopped
    • 3 tomatoes chopped
    • 1 medium onion chopped
    • ¾ - 1 cups salad dressing Homemade, Raisin Vinaigrette or store bought Italian
    • salt and pepper

    Instructions

     

    • Soak dry kidney beans overnight then cook until tender.
    • Prepare pasta according to package directions.
    • Add all ingredients together and mix well.
    • Adjust seasonings adding more dressing if needed to coat well.
    • Serve and Enjoy!

    Notes

    • I used store bought rotini pasta but homemade, regular, specialty or gluten free pasta works well too.
    • You can use store bought Italian dressing or basic homemade dressing but the Raisin Vinaigrette is absolutely delicious on it!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 554kcalCarbohydrates: 106gProtein: 27gFat: 2gSodium: 27mgPotassium: 1368mgFiber: 14gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 510IUVitamin C: 13.2mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 6.2mg

    Keyword easy, pasta salad, Simple Pasta Salad
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Do you Make a Meal of Pasta Salad or a Side Dish?

    Leave a comment, I would love to know!

    Pin It!

    Simple Pasta Salad in white bowls with large serving bowl in background and fresh ingredients with text overlay.

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Emily Kemp says

      March 26, 2018 at 8:07 am

      5 stars
      This pasta salad sounds so delicious, I could definitely eat this any time of the year!

      Reply
      • Dina-Marie says

        March 26, 2018 at 12:32 pm

        Emily, it is a great and easy dish - my family loves it!

        Reply
    2. Shelby @Fitasamamabear says

      November 11, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      I love when things are easy- yum!

      Reply
      • Dina-Marie says

        November 12, 2018 at 3:24 pm

        Shelby, me too - this mama loves easy!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Your gut health plays a central role in nutrient absorption, and affects all other systems in your body. The bacterial cultures in your intestines are an often overlooked and neglected part of the average diet.

    Known as the "second brain", your gut has more than 100 million neurons, and needs to be nourished.

    You'll find recipes here that focus on prebiotic ingredients, whole vegetables, and probiotics like kefir, sauerkraut and cheese.

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