This asparagus pasta salad is a healthy, colorful salad perfect for spring or summer. Enjoy it as a light lunch, or serve it as a side dish for a larger meal.
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Pasta salads are the ultimate summer food! Packed with nutrients, beautiful colors and fantastic flavors, they are light, lean and easy to eat. This recipe is incredibly simple, and I love making it when asparagus is in season.
Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need pasta, asparagus, red onion, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon or lemon juice, salt and pepper.
You can of course also add any other vegetables that you like.
I recommend using a short type of pasta in this recipe, such as fusilli, penne, conchiglie or bow tie pasta. You can also use whole grain pasta for added fiber and protein.
💡 TIP! Fresh, in-season asparagus is definitely the best choice for this recipe. Frozen or canned asparagus are not as well suited for salads.
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta al dente according to package instructions. The pasta should be soft, but still have some bite to it. For most pasta types, this takes 5-10 minutes.
- Prepare the asparagus: Remove the tough ends from the asparagus, and cut each stem into 2 inch / 5 cm long pieces. The asparagus has to be cooked for 1-2 minutes to become tender. I like to simply add the pieces to the pasta water a minute before the pasta is finished cooking, and finish them off together. You can also add the asparagus to a bowl of boiling water for a minute or two.
- Prepare the tomatoes and red onion: Peel the onion, and slice it very thinly. Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves or quarters.
- Combine the ingredients: Drain the pasta and asparagus, and add these to a bowl along with the prepared tomatoes and onion. Then, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients, and serve.
Top tips
- The asparagus should only be lightly blanched, not boiled. It only has to be submerged in boiling water for a minute or two.
- Cook the pasta al dente, and be careful not to boil it too much. Mushy pasta is a no-go in pasta salads!
- Feel free to add olive oil, seasoning and lemon juice to taste. These ingredients are mostly added for flavor, and you might prefer the salad to be a little more lemon-y, or have a kick of extra black pepper.
Browse my collection of healthy pasta salad recipes for more delicious meal ideas.
Serving suggestions
Serve the asparagus pasta salad as a light meal, or pair it with an entree for a more filling lunch or dinner. I love to make pasta salad for a BBQ, picnic or as a part of a buffet. If you're looking to serve it with a main, here are some of my favorite options:
- Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs - This entree looks a lot more impressive than it is!
- Air Fryer Sausage - Sausages cooked in the air fryer are so easy, but a great dinner option.
- Pesto Baked Salmon - A simple but delicious salmon recipe with pesto.
- Chicken Spedini - These chicken skewers are the perfect main to go with asparagus pasta salad.
Prefer to cook the asparagus separately? Check out my air fryer asparagus or instant pot asparagus recipes!
Variations
Added protein: If you're looking to make this a more filling meal, you can always add a protein source! Chickpeas, poached chicken breasts, or cooked salmon are excellent options.
More veggies: You can add or replace any vegetables as you like. Feel free to use more colorful, fresh, seasonal veg such as brussels sprouts, cucumber, spinach, lettuce, radishes, peppers, olives and more.
Gluten free: Make sure to use gluten free pasta if your dietary requirements depend on it.
Dressing: This recipe uses a simple dressing with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Feel free to substitute this for your favorite dressing if you prefer.
Leftovers
Leftover asparagus pasta salad will store well in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days. Do not reheat the leftovers, as pasta salads are best served cold.
This recipe is an excellent meal prep recipe, as it does not contain any ingredients that would typically go soggy or wet over time. Instead, the salad will be perfectly fresh and crisp for days after making it.
Prepare a big batch of pasta salad, and enjoy it as a light meal or side dish throughout the week!
Frequently asked questions
Although pasta salad is usually enjoyed cold, you don't have to wait for the pasta to cool before you make pasta salad. Simply drain the pasta, and mix with the other ingredients!
Pasta tends to absorb liquid, and eventually dry out in the fridge. To prevent this, you can add a little olive oil to your pasta salad. This will keep it moist and tasty.
You might also like these recipes
- Pasta Salad with Roasted Vegetables
- Caprese Pasta Salad with Pesto
- Pasta salad with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Bacon
- Tuna Pasta Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!
Recipe
Asparagus Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil the pasta al dente according to package instructions. The pasta should be soft, but still have some bite to it. For most pasta types, this takes 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the tough ends from the asparagus, and cut each stem into 2 inch / 5 cm long pieces. The asparagus has to be cooked for 1-2 minutes to become tender. I like to simply add the pieces to the pasta water a minute before the pasta is finished cooking, and finish them off together. You can also add the asparagus to a bowl of boiling water for a minute or two.
- Peel the onion, and slice it very thinly. Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves or quarters.
- Drain the pasta and asparagus, and add these to a bowl along with the prepared tomatoes and onion. Then, add olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir to combine the ingredients, and serve.
Video
Notes
- This recipe makes 2 servings if served as a light meal, or 4 servings as a side dish.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 4 days.
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