Pasta: Cook the pasta using the instructions on the package. Drain, but don’t rinse. Set aside to cool down.
Veggies: While the pasta cooks chop the veggies.
Toss: Add the pasta and veggies to a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to evenly coat.
Chill: Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until ready to enjoy. Stir before serving.
Notes
Bottle Dressing Tip: Use a glass measuring cup to measure the dressing. If you’re using my favorite bottled dressing above, stir in the additional salt and sweetener. Otherwise, use your favorite bottled vegan dressing (as-is or adjusted to your liking).For homemade dressing follow this recipe:
½ cup vegetable oil (If you’d like to use olive oil, only replace up to ¼ cup of the vegetable oil)
4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar
1-2 Tablespoons agave nectar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
⅓ teaspoon salt, or to taste
black pepper to taste
Make-ahead: This is a great recipe to make in advance. Prepare the salad a day ahead and store it in the fridge. Stir just before serving. Keeps in the fridge for up to 5 days.*This recipe was originally posted on 6/22/2016. It has since been updated with new photos and an easy Italian dressing.