Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad

This Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad is super easy to make and insanely delicious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, and covered in an elegant and tasty Lemon Herb Dressing.

Summer vibes are everywhere. I don’t know about you but for me it’s the most amazing time of the year:

I love watching the sunset, enjoy more than ever potlucks than in other seasons, and so much more.

I definitely have a thing for salads in this time. Just imagine sitting on a chill evening munching a big bowl of my all time favorite Quinoa Taco Salad [vegan, gf].

My point is: you can never have enough salads. But not the boring green-leaf-only type of salad. Salads with crunch, flavor, and character!

This Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad is no exception. It’s hearty, incredibly satisfying, and super easy to make.

Like a mini vacation to the Mediterranean sun, fresh, light, and a must make for everyone celebrating and loving good food.

How to make Pasta Salad

General steps are simple. First you have to cook your favorite pasta according the manufacturer’s directions. Then you have to decide on your own creative direction and preferences.

What to put in a Pasta Salad

You can put almost everything in a pasta salad. Think of vegetables or veganaise. For non vegans you can put some meat, bacon, and of course mayo or a blue cheese dressing, which is often made with sour cream and again mayo.

No boundaries in your creative spirit. Do what you like and want. But if you’re eating dairy free or plant based, the options seem to be a bit limited. But in reality, there is as much deliciousness as for meat eaters.

You really need something that gives flavor. That’s the secret. Instead of bacon we’re going for olives and roasted red peppers in this Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad and voila you have the flavors that you will love.

Of course, another important step for a stunning pasta salad is the dressing. Don’t just think about mayo here! My lemon herb dressing is everything you want and adore in a pasta salad.

No matter what nutrition direction you follow, meat eaters, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian anybody will get a soft spot for this Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad.

I served this recently and everyone wanted the recipe in seconds, so that means something.

No one missed the meat, or the mayo. It’s just super delicious, yum.

How to make dressing for pasta salad

Traditionally you will start with the mayo. Yup, often it’s all about the mayo. But we take a different direction. We’ll do a lemon herb dressing, which couldn’t be any easier as it gets.

Just combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, herbs, garlic, lemon juice and zest, and season with salt, pepper to taste. Mix with a wire whisk, or put in a jar and shake.

Also if you like it really fancy you can put the dressing ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.

Maybe at this point you wonder how to make lemon herb seasoning? The one that you can buy at almost every store.

I’m not a fan of this. Something was missing for my taste, so I decided not to make it with such a seasoning and basically made my own from easy and fresh ingredients.

One word to the herbs: you can play around to your own taste. I really like parsley and basil in this but there is so much room for other herbs. So try and let me know what is your favorite combination. I can’t wait to hear them all.

How to make Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad

After you have cooked the pasta and cooled it, all you need to do is combine it in a bowl with other optional add ons, like white beans, roasted red peppers, onions, and olives.

Next and last mix with the lemon herb dressing. Enjoy straight from the bowl or better divide on plates and bowls.

It will done in no time and that will definitely sad for your bowls or plates.

This salad makes an amazing dinner, lunch, is great for meal prep, or to bring on beaches, picnics and potlucks.

If you give this Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad a try, give me a hug or tag on Instagram or Facebook.

Take a lovely picture and show me all your great summer things you do.

Happy to be a part of it. Cheers, Florian.

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Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

This Lemon Herb Tuscan Pasta Salad is super easy to make and insanely delicious. Naturally vegan, gluten free, and covered in an elegant and tasty Lemon Herb Dressing.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta (I used gluten free)

For the Lemon Herb Dressing:

• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 lemon juiced + zest
• 1 cup mixed herbs (parsley, basil, anything you like)
• salt, pepper to taste

Optional add ons:

• 1/2 cup onions, chopped
• 1 cup roasted red peppers
• 3/4 cup white beans
• 1/2 cup olives

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Let cool and set aside.
2. To make the Lemon Herb Dressing, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, herbs, garlic, lemon juice and zest, and season with salt, pepper to taste. Mix with a wire whisk, or put in a jar and shake.
3. In a bowl combine the pasta with other optional add ons, like white beans, roasted red peppers, onions, and olives. Mix with the lemon herb dressing.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8 Serving Size: 2.5 cups
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 261Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4.5gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3.5mgCarbohydrates: 43gFiber: 2gSugar: 1gProtein: 7.6g