Perfect Summertime Pasta Salad Recipe

by Noor H. Salem, Certified Holistic Health Coach

With the weather at its warmest during the year, you may be enjoying lots of grilling with your family. Being in quarantine does not mean you can’t enjoy your favorite food with family; of course, with social distancing and precautions. One of the most popular summer foods, and barbeque side dishes, is none other than pasta salad. 

You may come across ready pasta salads in the deli aisle of your local supermarket, but it’s not one I would recommend you consume. You can make pasta in just a few minutes, and enjoy it while knowing the ingredients you are feeding your family. The popularly sold and consumed pasta are most likely derived of bleached and highly processed flour. It’s stripped of the nutrients, and many are enriched with vitamins. These white pasta are also very low in fiber, thus causing you to not feel satisfied. Pasta that are not labeled 100% whole grain may cause your blood sugar to spike, keeping you feeling hungry, despite how much you eat.

Noodles aside, the dressing or sauce may be just as concerning. Pasta dressing may include high fructose corn syrup, a ton of added sugar, artificial flavors, and preservatives. If you’re enjoying munching your favorite pasta from a restaurant, that makes it even more difficult to investigate those ingredients. The majority of restaurants or companies use lower quality ingredients, and won’t be serving you a sauce that’s organic or made from scratch. Additionally, pasta may be full of soybean or other vegetable oils, a high serving of cheeses, and factory-farmed meat. 

Since we’re talking about pasta, it’s important to mention the gluten-free alternatives found at almost every supermarket. While gluten pasta can be made with healthy ingredients, many of the companies have corn, preservatives, and other additives that are detrimental to your health. If you are looking for a great quality gluten-free pasta, you can find resources in my book, Sunnah Superfoods, or on my website. Make sure your pasta is free of additives and chemicals. You can find gluten-free pasta made of brown rice, lentils, and even chickpeas which is incredible. These pasta are much higher in protein and don’t cause your blood sugar to spike. 

The vegetables in this dish are extremely high in antioxidants vitamin K, C, and fiber. The great thing about vegetables is that they are low in calories, yet are extremely filling. Plus, they’re definitely a wonderful combination with pasta. The extra virgin olive oil provides healthy fat, granting you satiety atop the burst of flavor. This pasta is high in fiber and carries anti-inflammatory properties, too. It’ll match your favorite grilled food and won’t cause any detrimental health consequences like ready pasta would. Try this recipe at your next family barbeque or dinner party, and you’ll recognize prepared pasta is unnecessary. Feel free to add other ingredients of your choice like chopped parsley or sundried tomatoes.   

Ingredients:

• 1 pack organic brown rice pasta shells 
• 1 organic zucchini, sliced 
• 1 cup cauliflower, cut into small florets 
• ½ cup organic frozen corn 
• 3 carrots, finely chopped
• ½ cup bell peppers, sliced thinly 
• ½ cup organic pitted black olives 
• Half bottle organic Italian dressing 
• 1 teaspoon ginger, ground 
• ½ teaspoon mustard seed, ground 
• 1 teaspoon dill, dried 

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package, for about 10-12 minutes.
2. Steam all the vegetables for about 15 minutes, or until tender. Place in a large serving bowl.
3. In a small mixing bowl whisk the dressing and spices. Pour over vegetables.
4. Drain the water from the pasta and add to the bowl. Toss well. Enjoy hot or cold! 

Noor H. Salem is an author of six books, speaker, and Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, from Michigan. Noor works with clients in better understanding their bodies and healing with natural foods through her wellness practice, Holistic Noortrition. She presents various workshops, school lectures, group coaching classes, and community lectures on the topic of holistic health. Noor recently published her book, SUNNAH SUPERFOODS, a culmination of life-changing recipes and remedies, with a foreword by Dr. Waleed Basyouni. Her book consists of prophetic hadith, modern research, and delicious recipes, and is in the process of being translated into other languages.