MARINATED Vegetarian Pasta Salad!
How do you make the best ever vegetable pasta salad? MARINATE the veggies. Roast or BBQ any veg you want, then toss in a marinade so they absorb the flavour while hot before mixing through pasta.
Ingredients
- ▢ 400g / 14oz curly pasta dried (or other of choice)
- ▢ 1/4 cup parsley roughly chopped (or chives)
- ▢ 120g / 4oz feta crumbled into big chunks
VEGETABLES (NOTE 1):
- ▢ 2 capsicum/bell peppers 1 red, 1 yellow, cut into 2.5cm / 1" pieces
- ▢ 1 red onion cut into wedges
- ▢ 1 eggplant halved lengthwise, then 1.25cm/ 0.5″ thick semi circles
- ▢ 2 zucchini cut into 1.5cm / 2/3" chunks (see video)
- ▢ 200g/ 7oz button mushrooms halved (large ones quartered)
- ▢ 1 bunch asparagus ends trimmed, cut into 5cm/2" lengths
ROASTING
- ▢ 1/4 cup 65ml extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ 1 tsp each salt and pepper
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
MARINADE / DRESSING:
- ▢ 1/3 cup 85ml lemon juice
- ▢ 1/3 cup 85ml extra virgin olive oil
- ▢ 2 tsp white sugar
- ▢ 2 garlic cloves minced
- ▢ 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
- ▢ 1/2 tsp each dried basil parsley, oregano, thyme (Note 2)
- ▢ 1/2 – 1 tsp chilli flakes adjust spice to taste, Note 3
Instructions
MARINADE/DRESSING:
- Place ingredients in a jar and shake well. Set aside 10 minutes+.
ROASTED VEGETABLES:
- Preheat oven to 250°C/480°F (230°F fan) – super high heat replicates BBQ charred edges.
- Toss veggies in oil – Place all vegetables other than asparagus in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic, toss.
- Spread vegetables on 2 trays (fill one less than the other). Roast 25 minutes, tossing once.
- Add asparagus – Drizzle asparagus with oil and pinch of salt and pepper. Add into oven for last 5 minutes.
- BBQ Option: See Marinated BBQ Vegetables for directions.
PASTA SALAD:
- Marinate veggies – Transfer vegetables into large bowl, pour over 1/2 the Dressing. Toss, then leave to marinate for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Cook pasta + 2 minutes: In large pot of salted water, cook pasta per packet directions but ADD 2 minutes to the cook time (Note 5 for why). Drain and return pasta into pot.
- Add vegetables, including veg juices, into the pasta pot. Add remaining Dressing and parsley, then toss. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool slightly.
- Serve! Sprinkle with feta and serve! Keeps 4 – 5 days, serve at room temp.
Notes
This recipe is sponsored Mediterranean Supermarket