Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe
This is a light and refreshing pasta salad recipe, perfect for summer picnics and outings. This bow tie pasta salad is tossed with an amazing, light and zesty homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Servings: 12
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Equipment (affiliate links)
- Large pot for boiling water
- Mixing Bowl or Jar small
- Serving Bowl large
Ingredients
- 16 ounces farfalle pasta
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 5 ounces feta cheese crumbled
- 11 ounces cherry tomatoes (one pint) halved
- 6 basil leaves sliced thin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling water, prepare pasta until al dente.
- In a small mixing bowl or jar whisk or shake lemon juice, olive oil, mustard and minced garlic until well combined.
- Drain bow tie pasta and rinse with cold water to shock the noodles.
- In a large serving bowl, toss drained pasta with dressing, feta, cherry tomatoes and basil.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate until serving (recommend 2+ hours to allow the pasta salad dressing to marinate the bowtie pasta).
Notes
Substitutions
• Bow Tie Pasta Noodles - You can use the noodle of your choice, but I like using bow tie for the prettiest pasta salad. It holds the cheese and mustard grain and looks beautiful!
• Feta - Can be substituted with any soft cheese including fresh mozzarella or goat cheese.
• Cherry Tomatoes - Use red or a blend of yellow, orange and red to add even more color.
• Lemon Juice - Can be substituted with white wine or white wine vinegar.
• Olive Oil - Can be substituted witch canola oil in a pinch.
Tips
• Don't Overcook - Prepare noodles al dente. This will prevent your pasta salad from becoming mushy and toss easier. Overcooking your noodles will result in a mushier pasta salad. Nobody wants that!
• Shock Pasta - After straining noodles, rinse them with cold water to shock them.
• Cool Pasta - Allow your pasta to cool before adding the pasta salad dressing and ingredients.
• Marinate - The best pasta salads are made in advance to allow the dressing to soak into your bow tie pasta and toppings. This makes it so flavorful!
To Store
Refrigerate - Store in an airtight container or covered for up to 4 days refrigerated.
• Bow Tie Pasta Noodles - You can use the noodle of your choice, but I like using bow tie for the prettiest pasta salad. It holds the cheese and mustard grain and looks beautiful!
• Feta - Can be substituted with any soft cheese including fresh mozzarella or goat cheese.
• Cherry Tomatoes - Use red or a blend of yellow, orange and red to add even more color.
• Lemon Juice - Can be substituted with white wine or white wine vinegar.
• Olive Oil - Can be substituted witch canola oil in a pinch.
Tips
• Don't Overcook - Prepare noodles al dente. This will prevent your pasta salad from becoming mushy and toss easier. Overcooking your noodles will result in a mushier pasta salad. Nobody wants that!
• Shock Pasta - After straining noodles, rinse them with cold water to shock them.
• Cool Pasta - Allow your pasta to cool before adding the pasta salad dressing and ingredients.
• Marinate - The best pasta salads are made in advance to allow the dressing to soak into your bow tie pasta and toppings. This makes it so flavorful!
To Store
Refrigerate - Store in an airtight container or covered for up to 4 days refrigerated.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 167mg | Potassium: 186mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 255IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 0.9mg