Would you believe if I said there was a way to make your salad healthier? Salads are already the go-to answer for healthier eating habits, but there are chances that the more detailed and complex recipes you’re following are actually doing more damage than good. The answer? Keep things simple. Today, we’ll be looking at how to make a vegan pasta salad recipe.
This vegan pasta salad is a colorful combination packed with vitamins and minerals which will give you the healthy energy boosting-side dish that you’ve been meaning to have to compliment a more plant-friendly diet.
Salad ingredients
- 2 cups of brown rice pasta (gluten-free)
- 1 ½ cups of chickpeas
- ¾ cup of sliced black olives
- 1 sliced red onion
- ½ English cucumber diced
- 1 sliced bell pepper (any color)
- 15 small, chopped cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup of organic cooked corn
- 1 bunch of fresh parsley or cilantro chopped
First and foremost, we address the center of attention, the pasta. The pasta I like to use is a 100% brown rice pasta which is gluten-free. This pasta is cooked for 14 minutes prior to assembling your entire salad. Once your pasta is cooked, cooled, and drained, it’s time to add in your other ingredients.
The first ingredients to go in are those which bring the vitamins to the table. Red onions, cucumber, and bell pepper, all chopped will add a flash of color and nutrition to your pasta salad. Along with vitamin c, they will also introduce vitamin a, manganese, and hydrating properties to your meal. It doesn’t matter the color of the bell pepper either, that is up to your preference.
Next up, are the fiber foods. Take your cherry tomatoes and cut them up into small quarters so they’re easy to digest. Add in your corn and chickpeas and you have a hearty source of fiber and iron. Add in some black olives for whole food sourced healthy fats to complete the salad.
If you want, you can also add parsley or cilantro to your pasta salad for an extra nutrition kick.
I’m also going to show you how to make an awesome vinaigrette that you can use to top your future vegan salads, especially this vegan pasta salad. It’s packed with nutrition and flavor for a better-tasting salad.
Vinaigrette ingredients
- 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of sea salt
- 2 teaspoons of oregano
- ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder
Place all of these ingredients into a small mason jar, shake it around, and pour on your salad! It’s the perfect dressing for every occasion and a delightful burst of savory flavor!
If you’re interested in finding more recipes such as this one, then check out my YouTube channel which contains my tutorials and step-by-step recipe videos. You can also check out my website plantbasedeva.com!
To get started on your plant-based journey, check out my 30-day plant-based program and begin your journey!
Stay healthy,
Eva