Print

Fresh Bow Tie Pasta Salad Recipe with Creamy Zesty Dressing

fresh bow tie pasta salad - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick, easy, and refreshing bow tie pasta salad tossed with crisp vegetables and a creamy zesty dressing, perfect for summer gatherings and light meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces (340 grams) bow tie pasta (farfalle)
  • 1 cup (150 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup (150 grams) red and yellow bell peppers, diced
  • 1 medium cucumber (about 1 cup/150 grams), seeded and diced
  • ¼ cup (40 grams) red onion, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup (10 grams) fresh basil leaves, torn
  • ½ cup (75 grams) black olives, sliced (optional)
  • ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) honey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon (1 gram) dried oregano

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces (340 grams) of bow tie pasta and cook according to package instructions, about 10-12 minutes, until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. Drain pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Shake off excess water and transfer pasta to a large mixing bowl.
  3. While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice bell peppers, seed and dice cucumber, finely chop red onion, slice black olives if using, and tear fresh basil leaves by hand.
  4. In a medium bowl or jar, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  5. Pour the creamy zesty dressing over the cooled pasta. Add all prepped vegetables and basil to the bowl. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
  6. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld and dressing thicken slightly.
  7. Before serving, give the salad a gentle stir and taste. Add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if needed. Garnish with extra fresh basil leaves if desired.

Notes

Cook pasta just until al dente and rinse immediately with cold water to prevent sogginess. Chill salad for at least 30 minutes to meld flavors. Gently toss to avoid bruising tomatoes or crushing pasta. Can be made vegan by substituting mayo and Greek yogurt with vegan alternatives and using gluten-free pasta if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: bow tie pasta salad, creamy zesty dressing, summer salad, easy pasta salad, fresh pasta salad, vegetarian pasta salad

Find it online: https://atomicbite.com/fresh-bow-tie-pasta-salad-recipe-with-creamy-zesty-dressing-easy-and-perfect-for-summer/