Summer meals in Minnesota are so much better when they’re enjoyed al fresco. It’s all because of three things; winter sucks, summer is amazing and yes, it’s way to short. So, this quick, make-ahead recipe will make it easier to enjoy one more meal outside. Just don’t forget your sunscreen!
Pair this pasta with fresh summer fruit, grilled chicken or veggies and a cold drink.
It’s even better if you give it some time for the flavors to blend. Make it up to a day ahead and store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy. The leftovers also makes a great brown bag lunch for work.
Pasta Salad with Feta and Snap Peas
This make ahead pasta salad is packed with feta and lots of veggies for the perfect picnic lunch or vegetarian potluck party dish.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound uncooked rotini pasta
- 6 ounces sugar snap peas, trimmed, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 red bell pepper, trimmed, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/8 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions; add snap peas during last minute of cooking. Drain pasta and peas in a colander; rinse under cold water.
- In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients; toss to combine. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 326
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Looking for some more picnic perfect excuse? Here are a few…
Spicy Cucumber Salad from Bourbon and Honey
Picnic Recipes from Hello Natural
101 Picnic Dishes to Make in 20 Minutes from NYTimes
