You know, I love pasta dishes as they are cheap, easy to make and very versatile. If you are working and don’t have much time, this is a dish you can prepare in no time. Although I do not work, during summers I love to spend my time at the beach rather than being in the kitchen all day, so it’s a period I prefer to cook something easy but without sparing on the taste.
Pasta with vegetables tastes so good and is a perfect healthy and fresh tasting summer meal for someone on diet! Although pasta is rich in carbohydrates, it’s not fattening or unhealthy. Eaten in moderation pasta can be a great source of energy and help your carbohydrate intake. Combined with lots of vegetables and a little olive oil, it’s a perfect meal.
I’ve chosen some of my favourite summer vegetables but feel free to substitute with whatever you like best but it’s also perfect for cleaning out the fridge as well.
For this vegetable pasta recipe I sautéed the onion and garlic with a little olive oil and removed as much as I could before it browned. I then added the zucchini, cut in very thin slices, which sucked up the flavour from the olive oil, garlic and onion, then tossed in the mushrooms, peppers, cherry tomatoes and added in the garlic and onion again. I added about 2 tablespoons of my favourite pesto and then added the pasta with a little of the pasta water, so that everything would mix and absorb the flavours. This makes the zucchini tender and flavourful but don’t overcook as we want to have a crunch on the zucchini and you can feel a crunch from the almonds in the pesto as well. Cherry tomatoes and peppers add a sweetness to the dish. For me each raw cherry tomato is a burst of powerful summer flavor, but with a bit of cooking, they are even better. As for mushrooms what can I say, I can’t have enough of them.
The recipe is vegan as I do not add cheese to the pesto. If you like, however, you can add some cheese on top but for me it’s not necessary as the dish is delicious as it is and there is no need to add any more calories!!
Hot Vegetable Pasta Salad, Recipe by Ivy
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2
Ingredients:
200 grams farfalle, cooked al dente
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely cut
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 1 cup zucchini cut into very thin slices
5 cherry tomatoes cut in half
5 button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup bell peppers, various colours, julienned
2 tbsp mint pesto or your favourite pesto
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
Directions:
- Cook pasta, al dente, for about 15 minutes or according to package instructions.
- In a non stick frying pan or sautéing pan add 2 tbsp olive oil and sauté the onion, until translucent. Add the garlic and sauté lightly and just before they start to brown remove them, keeping the oil and adding the other tablespoon.
- Add the zucchini in one layer and sauté on each side for about 2 – 3 minutes.
- In the meantime cut the mushrooms, the bell peppers, the cherry tomatoes in half and set aside and finely chop the parsley.
- When the zucchini is done, add the mushrooms, bell peppers and cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 – 3 minutes. Add the sautéed onion and garlic and mix.
- Drain your pasta, reserving about ¼ cup of pasta water.
- Add the pasta to the pan, salt & pepper, the pesto and the water and mix until most of the water is absorbed.
Serve with finely chopped parsley and freshly ground black pepper on top.
Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!
Rosa
I love pasta dishes too and this salad looks marvelous!
Cheers,
Rosa
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Peter G
Nice to see you back Ivy (even if it's brief). Love the simplicity of pasta with fresh vegies…especially with olive oil and garlic!
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Reva
Pasta looks yummy with all the veggies added to it:) Truly scrumptious..
Reva
Ivy
Nice to meet you Reva. Thanks for visiting.
Anna A
I couldn't agree with you more. Pasta and veggies are so delicious together. Hope your summer is great.
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Anna Maria
Hello dear friend how nice find you.
As always in great shape.
This recipe is really your fresh and tasty, perfect for this hot summer.
A hug to you soon.
Pasta Maker Machine
very nice recipe
thanks for sharing with us
Nadji
Un plat de pâte des plus délicieux. J'aime beaucoup.
Tu as de la chance d'être encore au bord de la mer. Je t'envie.
A très bientôt.
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Eftychia
Ivy this is delicious and perfect for a diet food program as well…
Ivy
Thank you all for your lovely comments.
I hope my friends that you'll forgive me for not visiting your blogs the past months but after posting yesterday, I have visited a few and I have been salivating all day long, not to mention tempted, especially with the desserts. Since I will be continuing my diet for an indefinite period, It may take a while again until I post again!!!
My recent post Hot Vegetable Pasta Salad
Angie's Recipes
Ivy, the pasta salad looks fabulous! No wonder you don't need sweets.
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Simona
Very nice and colorful pasta salad. Perfect for summer.
magicofspice
I have missed you…so nice to see you back 🙂 This is a beautiful summer pasta dish!
Reeni
Your pasta sounds fabulous Ivy! And the beach looks relaxing and inviting! Enjoy! xoxo
lisaiscooking
This is great use for some of the abundant zucchini! I love having leftover pasta in the refrigerator for lunches, and this dish would be perfect.
5starfoodie
A fabulous pasta dish! Enjoy your time at the beach!
pierre
hello Ivy
Pasta and veggies th best for summer and the beach look !!
take care
pierre
Jamie
Really, Ivy, pasta salads are the best and the perfect summer meal! Cheap, easy, versatile and yummy and filling! We eat these all summer. Yours looks scrumptious!
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Cakelaw
This looks delicious Ivy!
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Juliana
Hi Ivy…welcome back 🙂 Your warm pasta salad looks terrific, love the idea with lots and lots of veggies. Beautiful dish!
Hope you are having a great week Ivy!
Ivy
Thank you Juliana. I am not 100% back yet… but I add a post every now and then.
Erica
wonderful salad! i am printing the recipe..Great for a weeknight dinner!
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mjskit
This pasta looks absolutely yummy but way too healthy! 🙂
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Christine
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