Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

If you love sundried tomatoes and pesto, then you're sure to love this pasta salad. The base is gluten free red lentil pasta, which is less glycemic, higher in protein and fiber, and free of refined starches. Incidentally, the dressing is vegan and oil free, as there's neither mayo nor oil in the dressing. Instead, I'm utilizing avocados and pistachios in the dressing for some whole food fats that also bundle fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Also check out my Mediterranean Pasta Salad and Mediterranean Sweet Potato Salad recipes with a light oil and vinegar dressing, feta cheese, roasted red peppers, and chickpeas

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Cook your pasta according to its instructions. Drain, and set aside in a large bowl

Step 2

Meanwhile, add your frozen spinach to a small pan over medium heat. Cook until lightly browned and most of the water has cooked off. If you don't mind the higher cost, replace the frozen spinach with either fresh spinach or fresh basil. You do not need to cook the fresh spinach/basil; only cook it if you're using frozen spinach

Step 3

Finely cut your tomatoes into a medium dice, finely dice an onion, and halve your olives. Add all 3 to the bowl with the pasta, and mix. 1 pint (10 oz, 283 g) of cherry tomatoes will also work

Step 4

Add your sun dried tomatoes to the food processor, and pulse until roughly chopped. Add in the spinach and the rest of the dressing ingredients, and blend until well combined. Thin out with water as needed

Step 5

Add the dressing into the pasta bowl, and mix until fully combined. Serve cold or warm

Step 6

To make it nut free, replace the pistachios with pumpkin seeds

Step 7

If you don't have avocado, here's a substitution. Microwave 1/4 cup + 2 tsp (70 g) water in a medium glass for a minute. Add 1/4 cup (30 g) of pistachios (or pumpkin seeds), and let soak for at least 10 minutes. This will yield a similar creaminess and nutritional profile as the 1 medium (100 g) avocado

Step 8

For some protein and omega 3s, I'm adding a can of sardines onto my pasta salad. You can also go with any leftover cooked chicken, beef, turkey, or fish

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