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Vegan Pasta Salad

Vegan pasta salad with vegetable-loaded crunch and a creamy tahini dressing that’s dairy-free and dairy-alternative friendly. Cook-and-rinse pasta, toss with colorful vegetables, then chill for best flavor and texture.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta salad base
  • 1 lb pasta Check for egg-free pasta.
  • 2 cup cherry tomatoes Halved.
  • 1 cup cucumber Diced.
  • 1 cup bell peppers Various colors, diced.
  • 0.5 cup red onion Diced.
  • 1 cup chickpeas Drained and rinsed.
Tahini dressing
  • 0.25 cup tahini
  • 0.25 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 clove garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 0.25 water Add as needed to thin dressing.
  • 0.1 salt To taste.
  • 0.1 pepper To taste.
  • 0.25 cup fresh herbs For garnish.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook and rinse the pasta
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until tender, then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking.
Make the tahini dressing
  1. Whisk tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, then add water a little at a time until the dressing reaches a pourable, creamy consistency.
Toss and chill
  1. Combine the drained pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, red onion, and chickpeas in a large bowl.
  2. Pour the tahini dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
  3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour to let the flavors meld and the salad cool.
  4. Just before serving, garnish with fresh herbs for a bright finish and color.

Notes

Pro tip: Rinsing the pasta with cold water keeps the pasta from clumping and helps the dressing coat without turning gummy. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze is not recommended because vegetables can soften after thawing. For a lower-fat option, use a reduced amount of tahini and thin with extra lemon juice and water to maintain creaminess while cutting calories.