Garlic Pasta Salad with Pecans
Brighten up your next meal with this vibrant Garlic Pasta Salad with Pecans! This easy-to-make dish combines tender fusilli or rotini pasta with crunchy, toasted pecans, zesty sautéed garlic, and a refreshing lemon-honey dressing. Fresh parsley and optional bursts of sweetness from cherry tomatoes add layers of flavor and color, making it perfect for summer gatherings, potlucks, or as a light vegetarian lunch. With just 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking time, this chilled pasta salad is a quick yet elevated option that's sure to impress. Serve cold or at room temperature for a versatile, crowd-pleasing dish packed with texture and taste.
Try SnapCalorie's FREE AI assisted nutrition tracking free in the App store or on Android.
Scan with your phone to download!
Ingredients
- 250 grams Pasta (fusilli or rotini)
- 100 grams Pecans
- 4 pieces Garlic cloves
- 4 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 150 grams Cherry tomatoes (optional)
Directions
Step 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Set aside.
Step 2
While the pasta cooks, toast the pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
Step 3
Peel the garlic cloves and finely mince them. In a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
Step 4
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Step 5
Chop the fresh parsley finely and halve the cherry tomatoes (if using).
Step 6
Add the cooked pasta, sautéed garlic, toasted pecans, parsley, and cherry tomatoes (optional) to the bowl with the dressing. Toss well to combine, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated.
Step 7
Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if desired.
Step 8
Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving size | (619.8g) |
|---|
| Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1668.9 |
| Total Fat 130.8g | 0% |
| Saturated Fat 15.4g | 0% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat 26.9g | |
| Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium 2378.8mg | 0% |
| Total Carbohydrate 109.9g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 16.9g | 0% |
| Total Sugars 17.2g | |
| Protein 26.3g | 0% |
| Vitamin D 0IU | 0% |
| Calcium 140.9mg | 0% |
| Iron 6.1mg | 0% |
| Potassium 1036.2mg | 0% |
Source of Calories