Description
A nourishing and colorful high protein Italian pasta salad featuring whole grain pasta, fresh vegetables, and chickpeas, perfect for family gatherings or picnics.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz whole grain pasta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the whole grain pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, chickpeas, feta cheese, olives, and basil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a vegan option, substitute feta cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative. Experiment with different herbs to customize the flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pasta salad, high protein, Italian salad, vegetarian salad, healthy lunch
