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Home » Entree » Pasta

Published: Sep 14, 2021 · Modified: Sep 14, 2021 by Sandhya Ramakrishnan · This post may contain affiliate links

Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

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A salad that can be a meal by itself. This pasta salad with sun dried tomatoes is a perfect blend of vegetables and pasta marinating in a tangy dressing and is best when served chilled.

I always wonder how people just salad as their complete meal. The only salad that I would make a meal would be a pasta salad which has our favorite - pasta and loads of fresh vegetables and herbs.

salad with pasta, broccoli, olives and basil in a mat with a serving spoon on side

This salad was first introduced to me by my dear friend. I had made it right then for my son's birthday and it was a great hit. Everyone loved it at the party and ever since then I make it for parties and pot luck. This is a great salad to pack for lunch box. My older one loves salad and this also keeps him filled up through the day.

When I say pasta salad with sun dried tomatoes, don't let that fool you in thinking that it just has the flavor of sun dried tomatoes. I have sun dried tomatoes in the salad, but it also has other fresh vegetables and herbs. If you grow herbs in your garden, make sure to pick some and use in the recipe.

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This pasta salad is just so colorful that no one can stay away from this. The flavor of the salad intensifies upon refrigerating and I would highly suggest making this the night before. If making for dinner, make the salad in the morning and let it chill until ready to serve.

This is my favorite to take to summer picnics and I made it last week to take to our end of summer party. It is so easy to put together for a crowd and I usually eye ball the amount of vegetables to pasta.

The dressing for the pasta salad is pretty simple and does not need too many ingredients. Make sure you buy a good quality sun dried tomatoes in oil for the salad as we use this oil for dressing the pasta salad

pasta salad with vegetables and herb

Why make this pasta salad?

This pasta salad with sundried tomatoes is the ultimate summer pasta salad that you will make!

  • It is colorful and so delicious that no one will be able to hold off after just one serving.
  • Use as many and as much vegetables of your choice in this pasta salad recipe.
  • A wonderful recipe to make for summer picnics as this pasta salad tastes great when served chilled.
  • So easy to make and serve and the best part is we can make it way ahead of time and chill it. I usually make a large batch and keep it refrigerated to use through the week for quick lunch or for lunch box.
  • This pasta salad is a great choice to make for lunch box as it is loved by kids and adults.
  • A very adaptable salad recipe where you can add your favorite vegetables and also sneak in a couple of not so favorite!
  • It is a vegan friendly pasta recipe. Make sure to check the labels of the pasta to make sure it is vegan.

Ingredients and substitutes

Check the recipe card at the bottom of the page for exact measurements and printable detailed recipe.

Pasta - Use your favorite pasta in this summer pasta salad recipe. I like to use penne or spiral, but have used bow tie and shells as well. A great recipe to use whole grain pasta (it is one of my favorite). This particular time when I photographed the recipe, I have used tri color spirals.

Vegetables - I have used fresh cherry tomatoes from our garden along with broccoli and bell pepper. I also use a little red onion and a good amount of fresh basil.

Olives - I use Kalamata (Greek olives).

Sun dried tomatoes - I buy sun dried tomatoes in oil from the store. Use a good quality product as we will be using this oil for the dressing. We have several options in the market as far the flavoring goes. I like to choose the basic sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and flavor it myself.

For the dressing - we will need oil from the sun dried tomatoes jar, lime or lemon juice, garlic, vinegar, mustard powder, salt and pepper. I also use some crushed red peppers for spice. Mustard and crushed red pepper is optional and can be skipped.

Step by step process

  • Cook the pasta as per the cooking instructions on the box and drain. Make sure to cook the pasta al dente. Also when cooking the pasta, do not forget to salt the water liberally. This is the only time we can add salt to the pasta. Let the pasta cool down to room temperature.

Tip - Add some olive oil to the drained pasta and toss it well. This ensures that the pasta does not stick to each other.

cooked tri color rotini pasta in a bowl
  • In the same salted boiling water, cook the broccoli florets for about 3-4 minutes. Then drain them immediately onto a bowl with ice and water and let it cool down. Remove it from the cold water in about 2 minutes and drain.

Tip - Adding the cooked broccoli to the cold water ensures that the broccoli does not cook further and also helps retain its bright green color and texture.

broccoli in water and ice bath
  • To make the dressing, add all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk it well.
salad dressing in a glass bowl
  • Take a large mixing bowl and start adding all the ingredients. First add the pasta and the broccoli, and then add the chopped cherry tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and the sun dried tomatoes. Mix them well and then pour the dressing over them. Toss the salad well and check the seasoning. At the end add the basil and mix once again gently.
pouring salad dressing in pasta salad
  • Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate couple of hours before serving.

Expert tips

  • Cook the pasta al dente. Mushy pasta does not taste good in a pasta salad.
  • Add salt when cooking the pasta. This is the only time we get to season the pasta.
  • Add some oil to the pasta after cooking and toss it. This helps in keeping the pasta from sticking.
  • If there is not enough oil in the sun dried tomatoes, add good quality olive oil to the dressing.
  • Let the pasta and the broccoli cool down to room temperature before combining everything together.
  • Keep a little extra dressing in hand to toss with the salad just before serving.

Frequently asked questions

How to serve this pasta salad?

Pasta salad can be served as a side to a meal or as a main course. This pasta salad with sun dried tomatoes tastes the best when served cold.

Is pasta salad vegan?

This pasta salad is vegan as I have not added any cheese or dairy product. Make sure to check the label to see if the pasta you use is vegan as well.

What other dressing can I use for pasta salad?

You an skip making your own dressing and any bottled dressing from the store. A simple vinaigrette will do the job as well. I also love using pesto in my pasta salad.

How to store pasta salad?

Pasta salad can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. In fact it tastes best when refrigerated for a day. Do not Freeze pasta salad as they don't thaw well.

More Pasta Salad Recipes

  • Asian Pasta Salad With Peanut Dressing
  • Roasted Pepper Pasta Salad with Simple Vinaigrette
  • Pasta Salad With Roasted Corn And Edamame

 If you made this recipe and liked it, give a star rating on the recipe card or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #MyCookingJourney and tagging me @sandhya.ramakrishnan. You could follow me and my recipes on Facebook |Instagram | Pinterest | twitter

pasta salad with vegetables and herb

Pasta Salad with Sun Dried Tomatoes

A salad that can be a meal by itself. This pasta salad with sun dried tomatoes is a perfect blend of vegetables and pasta marinating in a tangy dressing and is best when served chilled.
5 from 14 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
chilling time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 310kcal
Author: Sandhya Ramakrishnan

Equipment

  • bowl
  • Pot
  • spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Pasta any shape – 1 pound (I used rotini)
  • ½ cup Sun dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped into bite size pieces
  • 1 cup Cherry tomatoes halved
  • ⅓ cup Kalamata olives pitted and sliced
  • 2 cups Broccoli florets removed
  • 1 Bell pepper I used orange color (finely chopped)
  • ¼ cup Red Onion finely chopped
  • ½ cup Basil chopped small

For the dressing

  • ¼ cup Oil from the sun dried tomatoes
  • 4 Tablespoon Lime juice or lemon juice
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced finely
  • 1 Tablespoon Vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Mustard powder optional
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Pepper
  • 1 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes optional

Instructions

  • Cook the Pasta as per the cooking instructions on the box and drain them. Also when cooking the pasta, do not forget to salt the water liberally. This is the only time we can add salt to the pasta. Let the pasta cool down to room temperature.
    Tip - Add some olive oil to the drained pasta and toss it well. This ensures that the pasta does not stick to each other.
  • In the same salted boiling water, cook the broccoli florets for about 3-4 minutes. Then drain them immediately onto a bowl with ice and water and let it cool down. Remove it from the cold water in about 2 minutes and drain. Adding the cooked broccoli to the cold water ensures that the broccoli does not cook further and also helps retain its bright green color and texture.
  • To make the dressing, add all the ingredients mentioned above in a bowl and whisk it well.
  • Take a large mixing bowl or an aluminum foil pan and start adding all the ingredients. First add the pasta and the broccoli, and then add the chopped cherry tomatoes, onion, bell pepper and the sun dried tomatoes. Mix them well and then pour the dressing over them. Toss the salad well and check the seasoning. At the end add the basil and mix once again gently.
  • Cover it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate couple of hours before serving.

Notes

Expert tips
  • Cook the pasta al dente. Mushy pasta does not taste good in a pasta salad.
  • Add salt when cooking the pasta. This is the only time we get to season the pasta.
  • Add some oil to the pasta after cooking and toss it. This helps in keeping the pasta from sticking.
  • If there is not enough oil in the sun dried tomatoes, add good quality olive oil to the dressing.
  • Let the pasta and the broccoli cool down to room temperature before combining everything together.
  • Keep a little extra dressing in hand to toss with the salad just before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 310kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 944IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Sandhya.Ramakrishnan or tag #MyCookingJourney!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pavani says

    October 02, 2021 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    Such an easy and tasty pasta salad recipe. I made it for a potluck and it was a great hit with everyone. Thank you for this amazing recipe.

    Reply
  2. Avin Kohli says

    October 01, 2021 at 10:39 am

    5 stars
    The salad looks colorful and tasty. I am sure the sun-dried tomatoes gave it a nice hit. Lovely share!

    Reply
  3. Neha says

    September 30, 2021 at 12:44 am

    5 stars
    Pasta Salad with Sun dried tomatoes surely tastes amazing. the olives and basil further enhance the taste. What a colorful salad! I will try give your recipe a try.

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 30, 2021 at 2:05 pm

      Thanks Neha. Hope you like it.

      Reply
  4. Seema Sriram says

    September 29, 2021 at 11:36 pm

    5 stars
    The pasta looks perfect for summer lunch boxes too. The fresh cherry tomato and the tangy sundried ones together tastes amazing.

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 30, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      Absolutely. I love packing it for boy's lunch boxes.

      Reply
  5. Lata Lala says

    September 29, 2021 at 12:42 am

    5 stars
    Sandhya this certainly is a treat for pasta and salad lovers. The combination sounds so delicious with addition of sun dried tomatoes, veges and fresh herbs.

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 30, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      Thanks Lata!

      Reply
  6. Julie says

    September 21, 2021 at 7:26 pm

    5 stars
    What a yummy pasta salad! I love the addition of the sun-dried tomatoes. This is such a tasty lunch or dinner idea.

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 22, 2021 at 10:59 am

      Thanks! I love this for picnic lunches 🙂

      Reply
  7. Gail Montero says

    September 21, 2021 at 1:32 pm

    5 stars
    What a beautiful and flavorful salad this is! I love that it's so simple to make, too!

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 22, 2021 at 11:00 am

      Thanks Gail! It is so easy to make.

      Reply
  8. Dana says

    September 21, 2021 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    I love making this and packing it in lunches. It doesn't take long and it's a great change from sandwiches for the kids!

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 21, 2021 at 9:25 am

      I agree! These are wonderful for lunch boxes.

      Reply
  9. Melanie says

    September 20, 2021 at 11:50 am

    5 stars
    I made this pasta salad for the kids lunches and they loved it! I took some to work too! The sun dried tomatoes give a great taste!

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 21, 2021 at 9:26 am

      Sun dried tomatoes are my favorite in this pasta salad. Thanks for trying!

      Reply
  10. Claudia Lamascolo says

    September 20, 2021 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    this sound delicious I just made some sun dried tomatoes so this recipe will be perfect to add to the pasta what a treat and perfect timing!

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 21, 2021 at 9:26 am

      This will be so delicious with homemade sun dried tomatoes.

      Reply
  11. Natalie says

    September 20, 2021 at 10:42 am

    5 stars
    I'm going to make this salad for lunch tomorrow. Looks delicious. Light and healthy. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  12. Cara @ Street Smart Nutrition says

    September 20, 2021 at 10:35 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! I love a chilled pasta salad and the sun dried tomatoes added such nice savory flavors.

    Reply
    • Sandhya Ramakrishnan says

      September 21, 2021 at 9:26 am

      Thanks! I love chilled pasta salad for lunch as well.

      Reply

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Sandhya

I am Sandhya Ramakrishnan, author, recipe developer and photographer in this journey! 'My Cooking Journey' is all about family friendly Vegetarian and Vegan recipes from around the World with focus on Indian cuisine.

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