Mediterranean Pasta Salad (Vegan & GF)

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Cool down your summer with this Mediterranean Pasta Salad. It’s light, refreshing & chock-full of fresh vegetables.

The summer weather is approaching…

and most of us start craving light & refreshing food like crazy! So, I thought this Mediterranean Pasta Salad would be the perfect way to kick off the season.

It’s just not summer, without a zesty, veggie-packed pasta salad. Don’t you agree?

A total barbecue essential

This pasta salad, along with my tasty Creamy Potato Salad and Roasted Pepper Salad, is a must (Oh, and yes, vegan beer is a must too!) 😉 

Everything is so fresh tasting and just screams summertime deliciousness. These tasty dishes will be the life of your next party and make you the most popular person there.

They won’t even know it’s vegan!

Just bring this dish to your next get-together, and watch it disappear…FAST! You won’t hear a peep! That says something, doesn’t it?

Mediterranean Pasta Salad is the easiest to veganize, because it’s mostly made up of veggies anyway.

The only non-vegan ingredients are the feta and parmesan cheese. That’s an easy fix!

A cinch to prepare

The hardest part is waiting for it to chill and marinate to perfection. Well, that’s the hardest part for me anyway, and I usually wind up having a bowl before it goes into the fridge.

It tastes really good warm, too. That’s why I always make extra, especially if I’m bringing it to a get-together.

All you’ll have to do is boil a big pot of water for your pasta, press the tofu, mix the dressing, and chop up the crisp veggies.

The ingredients are easy to find too, and you’ll only need one trip to your local market.

It really is THAT easy!

So versatile

This recipe is so easy to adjust to your liking, so feel free to add your favorite ingredients or omit something you don’t like. The dressing can be made more zesty, spicy or milder.

It’s almost impossible to mess up and can be adjusted before serving too. So have fun with it!

What you’ll need for the dressing:

– Extra virgin olive oil
– Red wine vinegar
– Fresh lemon juice
– Mustard
– Pure maple syrup or agave
– Dried oregano
– Garlic & onion powder
– Sea salt & fresh cracked pepper
– Crushed red chile pepper flakes

To make the dressing, just whisk all the ingredients together and adjust flavors as needed. It might taste a little tangy or salty, but it will be spread over a pound of pasta, so keep that in mind.

What you’ll need for the Mediterranean Pasta Salad:

– Extra firm tofu
– Fusilli or farfalle pasta, gluten-free or regular
– Red onion
– Cucumber
– Grape tomatoes
– Kalamata olives
– Artichoke hearts
– Fresh basil or fresh mint
– Pine nuts

To prepare, cook the pasta until al dente and according to package directions. Now rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Then drain and set aside.

Make sure the tofu is pressed before making the “feta”. Then crumble it and lightly sprinkle with salt, and pour 1-2 tablespoons of dressing on top. Gently work it in with your fingers to coat. If you’d like a tangier flavor, add a small amount of lemon juice.

In a large bowl, add the pasta, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, artichokes and basil. Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss to combine. Now add the tofu gently & toss again. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.

Cover bowl and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to let flavors marinate. Taste again. I usually add a few squeezes of lemon, and a splash of olive oil to moisten. When finished, top with pine nuts. You can also add vegan parmesan and more fresh-cracked pepper to the top.

Alright, are you guys ready to get this summer party started? Let’s do this!

MORE SUMMER FAVORITES:

• Vegan Potato Salad
• Vegan Coleslaw
• Vegan Macaroni Salad

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you make this Mediterranean Pasta Salad, I’d love to get your feedback. You can leave a comment below and let me know what you think. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram, and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.

Step By Step Photos Above

Mediterranean Pasta Salad (Vegan & GF)

Cool down your summer with this Mediterranean Pasta Salad. It's light, refreshing & chocked full of fresh vegetables.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Mediterranean-Inspired, Vegan

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 6 people

Calories: 417kcal

Author: Melissa Huggins

Ingredients

• 1 block extra firm tofu , pressed & crumbled into small bite-sized pieces (*see note)
• 16 ounces dried fusilli or farfalle pasta , gluten-free or regular
• 1/2 cup red onion , diced small
• 1 large cucumber , diced
• 1 pint grape tomatoes , halved
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives , halved, sliced or left whole
• 1 14 ounce can artichoke hearts , drained, rinsed & quartered
• 1/4 cup fresh basil or fresh mint, chopped
• 1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)

Dressing: *See note

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard (sub yellow mustard)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup (or preferred sweetener)
• 2-3 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated onion
• 1 teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
• Fresh-cracked pepper , to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chile pepper (optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Place pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook until al dente & according to package directions (about 9-10 minutes). Rinse under cold water to stop cooking, drain and set aside.
• In a small-medium bowl, whisk all the dressing ingredients together. Adjust flavors as needed. It might taste a little tangy or salty, but it will be spread over a pound of pasta, so keep that in mind.
• Lightly sprinkle the crumbled tofu with salt, and pour 1-2 tablespoons of dressing on top. Gently work it in with your fingers to coat. If you'd like a tangier flavor, add a small amount of lemon juice (I do this). Set aside.
• In a large bowl, add the pasta, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, artichokes and basil. Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss to combine. Now add the tofu gently & toss again. Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.
• Cover bowl and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to let flavors marinate. Taste again. I usually add a few squeezes of lemon, and a splash of olive oil to moisten. When finished, top with pine nuts. You can also add vegan parmesan, and more fresh-cracked pepper to the top. Enjoy!

Notes

* PRESSING TOFU: wrap a block of tofu in a dish towel and place it on a rimmed plate. Add a cast iron skillet on top (or something equally heavy)and let it drain for 30-60 minutes. Pat dry to remove excess moisture on the surface.

You can also use a Tofu Press to make it even easier or you can use Pre-Pressed Tofu or High-Protein Tofu. 

* Prep time doesn't include pressing the tofu or the chilling time.

* The dressing is easily adjusted by taste. Add more or less of listed ingredients as needed. The pasta can be adjusted after too, so it's better to use less than more. I usually add a splash of olive oil, lemon juice, and vinegar after the pasta has marinated.

Nutrition

Calories: 417kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 296mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 1.7mg

Tried this recipe?Follow me @veganhuggs and mention #veganhuggs!

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Melissa Huggins

Melissa is the creator and recipe developer of the popular food & lifestyle blog, Vegan Huggs. It's a friendly and approachable environment for anyone who's curious about plant-based eating or cruelty-free living. Her blog is filled with comforting, familiar and easy-to-follow recipes that will fit into every household. Each dish is beautifully photographed in her own unique style with an inviting feel to them. Also, she has built a solid relationship with her readers and has a real understanding of what makes them return.

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