Rainbow of Colours Pasta Salad

Bursting with vibrant colors and fresh flavors, the "Rainbow of Colours Pasta Salad" is a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. This easy-to-make dish features tender tri-color rotini, crisp vegetables like cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and cucumbers, and is tossed with a tangy, homemade dressing made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a hint of Dijon mustard and honey. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a light, refreshing meal, this pasta salad is packed with nutritious ingredients and can be made in under 30 minutes. Serve it chilled or at room temperature as a crowd-pleasing vegetarian option that celebrates the beauty of fresh, vibrant produce.

Nutriscore Rating: 76/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Rotini pasta (tri-color or plain)
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 Yellow bell pepper
• 1 Cucumber
• 1 cup Carrots (shredded)
• 0.5 Red onion
• 0.5 cup Black olives (sliced)
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley (chopped)
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp Honey
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove Garlic (minced)
• 0.5 tsp Salt
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the yellow bell pepper, slice the cucumber into half-moons, shred the carrots if not pre-shredded, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, shredded carrots, red onion, sliced black olives, and chopped parsley.

Step 4

In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss everything together until evenly coated.

Step 6

Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let the pasta salad rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 7

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1319.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2195.8

Total Fat 84.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 13.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1278.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 319.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.1g	0%
Total Sugars 43.8g
Protein 50.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 444.8mg	0%
Iron 16.5mg	0%
Potassium 2629.7mg	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: 33.9%

Protein: 8.9%

Carbs: 57.1%