Low Sodium Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad
Elevate your summer meals with this vibrant and nutritious Low Sodium Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad! This heart-healthy dish is packed with fresh vegetables like juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, crunchy bell peppers, and zingy red onions, complemented by the briny touch of Kalamata olives and the herbal brightness of fresh parsley. Whole grain pasta serves as a wholesome base, while a zesty homemade dressing of lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, and garlic delivers bold flavor without the extra sodium. Quick to prepare and perfect for meal prep, this chilled pasta salad is ideal for picnics, barbecues, or light lunches. Make this irresistible, low-sodium recipe today for a flavorful twist on classic pasta salad!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 oz Whole grain pasta
- 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 1 large Red bell pepper
- 0.5 small Red onion
- 0.25 cup Kalamata olives (sliced)
- 0.25 cup Fresh parsley
- 3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 clove Minced garlic
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
Instructions
Cook the whole grain pasta according to the package instructions, omitting any salt. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta and stop further cooking.
While the pasta is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and sliced Kalamata olives.
Chop the fresh parsley and add it to the bowl with the pasta and vegetables.
In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, black pepper, and Dijon mustard to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad mixture and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
Before serving, give the salad a final toss and garnish with additional parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
894 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 56.4 g | 72% | |
| Saturated Fat | 7.9 g | 40% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 665 mg | 29% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 95.4 g | 35% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 19.7 g | 70% | |
| Total Sugars | 17.9 g | ||
| Protein | 18.3 g | 37% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 170 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 8.0 mg | 44% | |
| Potassium | 1616 mg | 34% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
