Heart-Healthy Vibrant Vegetable Pasta Salad

Bursting with fresh, colorful produce and wholesome ingredients, this Heart-Healthy Vibrant Vegetable Pasta Salad is a nutritious, flavor-packed dish perfect for any occasion. Made with fiber-rich whole-grain pasta and an array of crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and baby spinach, this salad is as satisfying as it is nourishing. A zesty homemade dressing featuring extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard ties everything together, infusing every bite with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Ready in just 25 minutes, this quick and easy recipe is ideal for meal prep, picnics, or a light lunch. Enjoy it chilled for a refreshing, guilt-free, heart-healthy delight that will brighten your table and boost your wellness!

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 ounces Whole-grain pasta
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium Cucumber
• 1 medium Bell pepper (any color)
• 0.25 medium Red onion
• 2 cups Baby spinach
• 0.25 cup Kalamata olives (pitted and sliced)
• 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 1 tablespoon Red wine vinegar
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper (freshly ground)
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Cook the whole-grain pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water to cool, and set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and roughly chop the baby spinach.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, baby spinach, and Kalamata olives.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt (if using) to make the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently toss until everything is well combined and coated with the dressing.

Step 6

Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes for better flavor melding.

Step 7

Garnish with additional fresh herbs, such as parsley or basil, if desired, and enjoy your heart-healthy vibrant vegetable pasta salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1025.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	926.3

Total Fat 56.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1194.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 98.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.0g	0%
Total Sugars 18.5g
Protein 20.1g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 238.1mg	0%
Iron 8.4mg	0%
Potassium 1410.5mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 51.8%

Protein: 8.2%

Carbs: 40.0%