Description
Pasta Salad with Basil is a fresh, light, and easy-to-make dish combining crisp vegetables, smoky turkey bacon, and creamy plant-based cheese. Perfect for warm days, potlucks, or quick meals, this vibrant salad balances herbal freshness with savory richness for a satisfying flavor experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup shredded plant-based cheese
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (natural)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (natural)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Begin by boiling salted water in a large pot. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it for the salad.
- Prepare the bacon and veggies: While the pasta cooks, crisp up the smoked turkey bacon in a pan until golden and slightly crunchy. Drain on paper towels and chop into bite-sized pieces. Then, halve the cherry tomatoes and dice the cucumber into small cubes.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar (natural), Dijon mustard (natural), garlic powder (natural), salt, and pepper in a small bowl. This simple dressing brightens the entire salad and coats each ingredient in delicious flavor.
- Toss everything together: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped bacon, tomatoes, cucumber, shredded plant-based cheese, and fresh basil leaves torn into pieces. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
- Chill and serve: For best flavor, refrigerate the salad for at least 20 minutes before serving to let all flavors meld beautifully. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente to prevent the salad from becoming mushy.
- Keep veggies and plant-based cheese chilled to maintain freshness and crispness.
- Add fresh basil just before serving to avoid wilting.
- Use high-quality olive oil for better flavor and mouthfeel.
- Taste and adjust the dressing seasoning for your preferred balance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No cooking (pasta boiling and pan frying on stovetop)
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
Keywords: pasta salad, basil, plant-based cheese, smoked turkey bacon, fresh salad, easy recipe, quick meal, gluten free
