Summer Pasta Salad
Stability Nutrition
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Summer Pasta Salad
August 30, 2023 | Healthy Recipes, Nourishing Lunches
Celebrate the last days of summer with this vibrant Summer Pasta Salad! A gluten-free and dairy-free dish bursting with fresh veggies and aromatic herbs—perfect for Labor Day weekend or any end-of-season celebration!
Hello Stability Nutrition Friends!
As the sun begins to set on another glorious summer season, and the anticipation of Labor Day weekend fills the air, it's the perfect time to savor the flavors that have made our summer unforgettable. What better way to say goodbye to the season than by capturing its essence in a bowl? That's right, we're talking about a dish that screams summer from every bite—our vibrant Summer Pasta Salad!
Whether you're hosting the ultimate Labor Day BBQ, planning a weekend getaway, or simply soaking up the last days of summer sunshine, this salad is your culinary companion. It's a celebration of all the flavors we love about summer— heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil, garden-ripened peppers, and a symphony of colors that matches the vibrant sunsets of late August.
So before we switch to pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters, let's give summer the send-off it deserves—with a bowl of this gorgeous Summer Pasta Salad!
What Makes Our Summer Pasta Salad Unique:
Packed with Freshness: Every ingredient in this dish, from heirloom tomatoes to Jimmy Nardello peppers, is a nod to summer's bounty.
Protein Flexible: Customize this salad with the protein of your choice! Whether it’s chickpeas, white beans, shrimp, or chicken, the sky's the limit.
Gluten and Dairy-Free: Following dietary restrictions doesn’t mean you have to compromise on taste. This pasta salad is bursting with flavor.
Nutrition-Boosted: With a variety of vegetables and high quality olive oil, you're not only eating a delicious meal, you're nourishing your body.
Summer Pasta Salad
Celebrate the last days of summer with this vibrant Summer Pasta Salad, a gluten and dairy-free dish bursting with fresh veggies, aromatic herbs, and a protein of your choice—perfect for Labor Day weekend or any end-of-season celebration.
Author: Elisa | Stability Nutrition
Servings: 4 large
Ingredients:
8 oz gluten free penne pasta
1 Tbsp olive oil
8oz brown cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 red onion, sliced in ½ moons
½ tsp sea salt
1 ½ cups diced red bell pepper or Jimmy Nardello peppers, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups diced heirloom tomato, or halved cherry tomatoes
1 ear of fresh corn, kernels cut off the cob
½ cup sliced marinated artichoke hearts
½ cup pitted, sliced Kalamata olives
¾ cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
2 Tbsp high quality aged balsamic vinegar
1 Tbsp high quality olive oil
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
Fresh ground black pepper
Sea salt to taste
Protein of choice for the top: Cooked chickpeas, white beans, shrimp, and chicken all work well.
Instructions:
Bring a large pot with salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Reserve the pasta pot for mixing the finished dish together.
Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms, onions and salt, and sauté until the mushrooms start to release their juices, about 5 minutes. Add the peppers and sauté for 5 more minutes, until cooked through. If the mixture starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, turn the heat down and add 1 tbsp of water.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Add the tomatoes and corn, and stir in until well combined. Remove from the heat.
Pour the vegetable mixture from the skillet into the pot that you cooked the pasta in. Add the drained pasta, artichoke hearts, olives and basil and stir well.
Next add high quality balsamic vinegar, olive oil, nutritional yeast, garlic and onion powders. Taste, then season with fresh ground black pepper and sea salt if desired.
Divide the pasta salad between 4 bowls, top with your cooked protein of choice.
Enjoy!
Storage Tips
Our Summer Pasta Salad holds up well in the fridge for up to 3 days. It's delicious reheated, or served cold.
Food is so much more than just sustenance. It's about celebrating flavors, nourishing our bodies, and creating beautiful memories with our loved ones.
I hope you give this recipe a try! As always, I'd love to see your creations and hear your feedback. Follow us on instagram @stabilitynutrition, and post your photos of our recipe with the hashtag #stabilitynutrition.
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Happy cooking, friends!
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