Quick Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad (Printable)
Zesty pasta salad with peppery arugula, fresh vegetables, and bright lemon dressing. Ready in 20 minutes for quick lunches.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 9 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
→ Greens & Vegetables
02 - 3 cups fresh arugula
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Dressing
06 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
07 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
08 - 1 garlic clove, minced
09 - 1 tsp honey or agave syrup
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
→ Toppings
11 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
12 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Set aside.
02 - In a large serving bowl, whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Add cooked pasta, arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion to the dressing. Toss gently until evenly coated.
04 - Top with crumbled feta and toasted pine nuts if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in literally 20 minutes start to finish
- The lemon arugula combo wakes up your tastebuds like nothing else
02 -
- Rinse your pasta immediately or it keeps cooking and becomes mushy
- The arugula wilts slightly which is exactly what you want, don't stress it
03 -
- Toast your pine nuts in a dry pan until golden, it transforms the whole dish
- Let the dressed salad sit for 10 minutes before serving for flavors to meld