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Nutritious Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad

July 13, 2015 Leave a Comment

Hi! I’m Kristy from Chocolate Slopes!  I am thrilled to be guest blogging for the V Spot today!  I’ve made a nutritious and delicious veggie salad that is sure to please a crowd.

This Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad is an excellent idea for a side dish added to your dinner tonight or doubled for a potluck or party.

Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad

One thing that’s great about pasta salads is that you can add any vegetables you’d like.  I typically have at least 4 different kinds of fresh vegetables in my fridge at a time and this is the perfect recipe to make when you want to clean out your fridge.

Dietitian’s Dish

I love cold pasta salads but don’t enjoy the amount of calories and fat that typically go along with this type of salad.  So I decided to make my own healthier version with just a bit of healthy fats from the olive oil.  Olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats which are the healthy fats that reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. And when it comes to olive oil I like to choose extra-virgin olive oil.  Extra-virgin is the purest olive oil and is the highest in antioxidants. Just be aware to keep the amount in moderation since any kind of oil is calorically-dense.

Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad - nutritious and healthy

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Italian Vegetable Pasta Salad
 
Ingredients
  • 6 oz. whole wheat rotini pasta noodles (about 2½ cups of dry pasta)
  • 1 cup each: chopped celery, red pepper, zucchini and carrots
  • 1 large tomato chopped
  • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta as directed then rinse in cold water.
  2. Combine vegetables, vinegar, olive oil, basil, oregano, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
  3. Add Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
  4. Serve immediately.
Notes
If you have leftovers, add more balsamic vinegar and olive oil to the salad since the pasta will absorb some of the liquid over time.
3.3.3077

If you’re looking for additional vegetable side dishes, check out these delicious salads…

Creamy Broccoli Salad with Dried Cranberries

Freekeh Spinach Salad {with lemon honey vinaigrette dressing}

Kale and Feta Salad

Roasted Green Beans with Feta Cheese

Kristy Hegner is a registered dietitian and owner of Chocolate Slopes.  Her blog focuses on healthy yet realistic nutrition for the family.  You’ll find healthy (and some indulgent) recipes, along with nutrition tips to help you live a healthier lifestyle.

Kristy Hegner photo

Filed Under: guest blogger, Main Dish, recipes, Side Dish Tagged With: Italian recipes, pasta, pasta salad, summer salad, vegetables

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