Chilly Breeze Vegan Pasta (Printable)

Zesty vegan pasta with fresh vegetables, herbs, and a light lemon-chili dressing for a refreshing main course.

# List of ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces dried whole wheat spaghetti or linguine

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium zucchini, julienned
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup baby spinach
06 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

07 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 lemon, zested and juiced
09 - 1 small red chili, finely chopped or ½ teaspoon chili flakes
10 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar
12 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
13 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Fresh Herbs & Garnish

14 - ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Optional: 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

# Steps:

01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente per package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool for this cold preparation.
02 - While pasta cooks, julienne the zucchini, slice the bell pepper into thin strips, halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the spring onions, and arrange all vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon zest and juice, minced chili, garlic, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified and smooth.
04 - Add cooled drained pasta to the prepared vegetables. Pour the lemon-chili dressing over the mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Fold in baby spinach, torn basil leaves, and chopped parsley. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or chili heat as desired.
06 - Plate the chilled pasta salad immediately or allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with toasted pine nuts if using.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon chili dressing wakes up your palate without overwhelming the fresh vegetable flavors
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for impromptu dinners or last-minute potluck contributions
  • The pasta stays fresh for days, meaning you can make a big batch and enjoy it throughout the week without any loss of quality
02 -
  • Rinsing pasta under cold water might seem wrong but it is essential here to stop the cooking process and wash away excess starch that would otherwise make the dish gummy
  • The pasta actually tastes better after it sits for 30 minutes because the dressing has time to penetrate the noodles and vegetables
  • Halving the cherry tomatoes instead of leaving them whole allows them to release just enough moisture to lightly dress the pasta as it marinates
03 -
  • Reserve a small handful of fresh herbs to scatter over the top just before serving for a burst of color and aroma
  • If making ahead, keep a portion of the dressing separate and toss it through right before serving to refresh the flavors

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