Description
A vibrant and delicious Ditalini Pasta Salad featuring fresh veggies, savory smoked turkey bacon, and creamy plant-based cheese, perfect for quick lunches, picnics, or light dinners. This colorful salad combines smoky, creamy, and tangy flavors with a satisfying crunch and is easy to prepare in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups ditalini pasta
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded plant-based cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Ditalini Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the ditalini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a non-stick pan, cook the smoked turkey bacon slices over medium heat until crispy. Remove from the pan, let cool slightly, then chop into bite-sized pieces for texture and smoky flavor in the salad.
- Chop the Fresh Vegetables: While the pasta and bacon cool, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion. Set aside fresh parsley for garnish or folding into the salad at the end.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar (natural), extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and pepper until emulsified into a smooth dressing.
- Combine All Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled ditalini pasta with chopped smoked turkey bacon, fresh veggies, shredded plant-based cheese, and the dressing. Add parsley and mix gently but thoroughly to combine flavors evenly.
- Chill and Serve: Allow the salad to chill for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving; this helps the flavors meld beautifully and keeps the pasta firm.
Notes
- Do not overcook pasta; keep ditalini al dente to maintain texture.
- Rinse cooked pasta thoroughly under cold water to prevent stickiness and help it absorb dressing better.
- Toss some salad with a small amount of dressing first, then gradually add more to avoid overdressing.
- Chill well for at least 30 minutes to deepen flavor harmony.
- Adjust seasoning after chilling for the best balance of flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Boiling, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: Ditalini pasta salad, plant-based cheese salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, quick pasta salad, fresh vegetable salad
