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Summer Pasta Salad

This Summer Pasta Salad has an incredible Cilantro Ranch dressing and lots of fresh vegetables, nuts and cheese, too. Add rotisserie chicken if you like.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
22 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 870 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course , Salad
Cuisine: American , Tex-Mex

Ingredients

  • 16 oz gemelli pasta
  • 12 oz mini tomatoes (gold, yellow and red) slice in half lengthwise
  • 1 cup corn kernels (See Note 1)
  • 1/2 red bell pepper thin half inch slices
  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper thin half inch slices
  • 1 zucchini thin half inch slices
  • 1 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 bunch cilantro (See Note 2)
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (salted and roasted)
  • 1/2 cup cotija cheese
  • marinated red onion slices (See Note 3)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Slice the vegetables and set aside.
  2. In a large pot over high heat bring heavily salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook for 12 minutes. Drain the cooked pasta and place in a large salad bowl.
  3. In a blender add the Ranch dressing and cilantro leaves only. Purée until blended and set aside.
  4. Add the dressing, pepper and sliced vegetables to the cooled pasta and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour to chill.
  5. Toss the salad again and season to taste. Serve with marinated red onion slices, cotija cheese crumbles and pumpkin seeds.

Notes

  • You can use freshly grilled cut off 1 or 2 ears of corn, canned or frozen.
  • Rinse and twist all the leaves off the bunch of cilantro, discard the stems. This should be a little over 1 cup or 1 1/2 cup total.
  • One of this salad’s ingredients, the sliced red onion in rice wine vinegar, is treated to a quick pickle prior for the salad. I like to keep this mixture on hand in my refrigerator for different salads and as a garnish on Mexican dishes. Simply thinly slice a red onion, cover it with rice wine vinegar and keep in your refrigerator. For this I would suggest allowing the onions to marinate at least 30 minutes if you don’t have any on hand.

Nutrition Information

Calories 870kcal (44%) Carbohydrates 104g (35%) Protein 23g (46%) Fat 41g (63%) Saturated Fat 8g (40%) Cholesterol 36mg (12%) Sodium 758mg (32%) Potassium 815mg (23%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 10g (20%) Vitamin A 1455IU (29%) Vitamin C 69.4mg (77%) Calcium 155mg (16%) Iron 3.4mg (19%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 870

% Daily Value*

Calories 870kcal 44%
Carbohydrates 104g 35%
Protein 23g 46%
Fat 41g 63%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 36mg 12%
Sodium 758mg 32%
Potassium 815mg 17%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 10g 20%
Vitamin A 1455IU 29%
Vitamin C 69.4mg 77%
Calcium 155mg 16%
Iron 3.4mg 19%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.