Creamy pasta salad with chickpeas, strawberries and pepperoncinis
It’s officially the start of pasta salad season, and this one’s likely to be a classic all summer long. This creamy pasta salad with pepperoncini, strawberries and chickpeas is fresh, tasty and full of contrast.
With its slightly tangy notes, creamy texture and simple ingredients, it’s the perfect kind of recipe for a quick lunch, picnic or uncomplicated entertaining.
- Servings: 4
- Preparation time: 20 minutes
Pepperoncinis are small, sweet peppers usually sold pickled in jars. They have a slightly tangy taste and a very mild touch of spiciness, making them perfect for adding punch to salads, sandwiches and pasta dishes.
Les pepperoncinis sont généralement assez doux, avec un léger piquant, mais restent accessibles à la plupart des palais!
La levure alimentaire est une levure inactive utilisée en cuisine pour son goût légèrement fromagé et umami. Elle se présente sous forme de flocons ou de poudre et est très populaire dans les recettes végétales. J’adore en ajouter dans mes sauces pour pâtes, dans mes vinaigrette ou encore dans trempettes!
Oui, elle se prépare très bien à l’avance. Conservez-la au réfrigérateur et mélangez avant de servir. Vous pouvez ajouter un peu de mayonnaise ou un filet de saumure pour raviver la texture.
Creamy vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup (80 ml) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon (30 ml) white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) pepperoncini brine
- 2 teaspoon (10 ml) maple syrup or honey or less
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) oregano
- 2 teaspoon (10 ml) nutritional yeast
- 3/4 teaspoon (3.75 ml) salt
- Pepper (lots of it!)
Pasta salad
- 400 g short pasta of your choice
- 1 can 540 ml chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup (80 g) diced strawberries
- 1/3 cup (70 g) coarsely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 cup (45 g) coarsely chopped basil leaves
- 2 cups (50 g) arugula
- 1/3 cup (50 g) pepperoncini, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup (35 g) finely sliced red onion (or more to taste)
Toppings
- Balsamic reduction
Creamy vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, combine all dressing ingredients.
Pasta salad
- In a pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water and drain.
- In a large bowl, toss all salad ingredients with the creamy vinaigrette. Serve with a little balsamic reduction!