Packed with fresh veggies, herbs, and chickpeas, this vegan Italian pasta salad is a side dish that eats like a meal. Perfect for literally any summer gathering or for the easiest meal prep of all time. Make a batch and enjoy it cold from the fridge for an easy meal all week!
Course dinner, lunch, Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian, vegan
Servings 6
Calories 558kcal
Equipment
large pot
large mixing bowl
strainer
Ingredients
16ozpasta
15ozcan chickpeas drained
¼cupvegan Parmesan cheeseor nutritional yeast
For the cooked veg
½zucchini cut in half moons
1summer squash cut in rounds
2clovesgarlic chopped
2tbspolive oil
1pinchred pepper flakes
1pinchsalt and ground black pepper
3baby bell peppers diced
For the salad
2campari tomatoes diced
10pitted kalamata olives chopped
10manzanilla olives chopped
¼cupchopped herbsmix of parsley, dill and mint
For the dressing
5tbspolive oil
1.5lemons juiced
½tspsalt
1clovefresh garlic
2tbspmaple syrup
ground black pepperto taste
½cupfresh herbsmix of parsley, dill and mint
Instructions
Put on water to boil for pasta and cook according to the box. Once cooked, rinse with cold water and set aside until other elements are ready
In a large sauce pan, over medium heat, add the olive oil and warm. Add garlic and chili flakes and cook for 2 minutes until fragrant. Add zucchini, summer squash and peppers and cook for 7 minutes stirring occasionally until veggies are tender. Let cool.
Make dressing in a blender by adding olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, garlic, salt, pepper and herbs and blending until smooth.
In a large bowl add cooled pasta, cooled cooked veggies, tomatoes, olives, chopped herbs, chickpeas and dressing. Toss until well mixed then add vegan parmesan and toss again