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Zesty Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad

Zesty Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad That's Ready in 15 Minutes

This Zesty Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad is a vibrant, quick dish prepared in just 15 minutes, perfect for hectic weeknights.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 300 g Short Pasta Use fusilli, penne, or farfalle
For the Salad
  • 150 g Fresh Arugula Spinach can be used as a substitute
  • 250 g Cherry Tomatoes Halve them for integration
  • 60 g Parmesan Cheese Freshly shaved; Pecorino can be swapped
  • 50 g Pine Nuts Toasted for crunch; almonds or walnuts are substitutes
For the Dressing
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 Lemon Zest From 1 large lemon
  • 60 ml Fresh Lemon Juice Freshly squeezed
  • 120 ml Extra Virgin Olive Oil Higher quality is recommended
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard For emulsification; yellow mustard can be substituted
  • Sea Salt & Black Pepper To taste
  • Optional Red Pepper Flakes Adjust to your desired level of kick

Equipment

  • large pot
  • Skillet
  • mixing bowl
  • whisk

Method
 

Cooking Steps
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and add a pinch of salt. Cook the pasta for about 8–10 minutes until al dente.
  2. Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 2–3 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Remove from heat.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste until emulsified.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine the warm drained pasta with three-quarters of the dressing, cherry tomatoes, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan.
  5. Gently fold in the arugula until just wilted. Adjust seasoning and serve immediately topped with remaining Parmesan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 10gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 200mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1000IUVitamin C: 25mgCalcium: 150mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Store salad in an airtight container for up to 1 day in the fridge, adding arugula just before serving for maximum freshness.

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