Low Sodium Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad

Brighten up your table with this Low Sodium Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad, a vibrant and heart-healthy dish perfect for any gathering or meal prep. Packed with crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red bell pepper, this pasta salad combines wholesome whole-grain pasta with a zesty homemade dressing of extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Low in sodium but big on flavor, the addition of fresh parsley and Kalamata olives adds a Mediterranean flair, while the quick prep and chill time make it an ideal make-ahead option. Perfect for summer picnics or light lunches, this colorful and nutritious pasta salad is proof that heart-friendly eating can be both delicious and satisfying.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 4

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

Directions

Step 1

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.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

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

Step 4

Chop the fresh parsley and add it to the bowl with the pasta and vegetables.

Step 5

In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, black pepper, and Dijon mustard to create the dressing.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad mixture and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.

Step 7

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.

Step 8

Before serving, give the salad a final toss and garnish with additional parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(938.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	894.5

Total Fat 56.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 7.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 664.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 95.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.7g	0%
Total Sugars 17.9g
Protein 18.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 170.2mg	0%
Iron 8.0mg	0%
Potassium 1615.6mg	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: 52.7%

Protein: 7.6%

Carbs: 39.7%