Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe
This healthy Orecchiette Pasta Salad is a colorful combination of veggies and herbs for a great summer side dish. Try it for your next barbecue or potluck!
This pasta salad is a fresh and flavorful dish that combines the mild, nutty flavor of orecchiette pasta with the savory flavors of caramelized zucchini, fresh cherry tomatoes, and tangy black olives.
What Kind Of Pasta Is Orecchiette?
Orecchiette pasta is a small, mushroom cap-shaped pasta that is wonderful for pasta salads. It is most often found in the southern Italian regions of Apulia.
What Does Orecchiette Mean In Italian?
The literal translation is, “ear”. So named because their shape looks like little ears. But before you gross out, they look more like mushroom caps to me.
What Is Orecchiette Pasta Good For?
It’s a fantastic choice for pasta salads simply because it’s very easy eating. The pieces are small and round, making the finished texture quite easy to eat. It also has a rough surface, so it’s typically very good at holding on to any sauce you add to it.
Are Pasta Salads Healthy?
These kinds of general questions usually have many answers. But at the end of the day, It’s as healthy as the ingredients you add to it.
Who Invented Pasta Salad?
“Some historians and chefs such as Claudia Roden trace back the origin of pasta salad to Italian Jews in the Roman Empire, who reused cold pasta as Jewish Law prohibited cooking on sabbath. Others date it even further back to the Phoenecians.”
Wikipedia
Recipe Tips
Make sure to achieve a golden-brown color on your zucchini and cherry tomatoes: Cooking the zucchini and cherry tomatoes until they turn golden brown intensifies their sweetness and flavor. Although it requires patience, it’s a worthwhile step.
Cook the pasta al dente and avoid overcooking: Pasta that’s overcooked can become mushy and lose its texture. Cook the pasta al dente and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and avoid it becoming mushy.
Choose high-quality ingredients: The flavor of the dish can be greatly influenced by the quality of the ingredients used. Opt for ripe and flavorful cherry tomatoes, fresh basil that’s fragrant, and high-quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavors.
Adjust the spice level to your liking: The amount of chili flakes used can be tailored to your taste. Reduce the chili flakes for a milder salad or omit them completely.
Let it rest: Allow the pasta salad flavors to blend together and make the dish more refreshing on a hot day by refrigerating the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors a chance to meld.
Make ingredient substitutions when required: This recipe can be easily adapted to your needs. If you lack certain ingredients, feel free to replace them with similar ones or whatever is available to you.
Recipe Variations
Here are some suggestions for different additions you can add to this healthy pasta salad:
- Garlic – fresh, granules, or powdered. Roasted garlic would also be amazing.
- Pesto
- Spinach
- Oregano
- Vinaigrette
- A splash of red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
- Carrots – chopped small
- Protein – any kind you like. Shredded chicken would work well here.
- Red onion – chopped
- Fresh mozzarella
- Feta cheese
- Fresh parsley
About The Ingredients
Orecchiette pasta – You’ll want either whole wheat orecchiette, or if needed, gluten-free orecchiette. Depending on the area you live in, this can be more or less difficult to find. Specialty stores such as Whole Foods or World Market sometimes carry this pasta. But it’s worth a look at your local grocery store too. Worst case scenario, you can find it online and have it delivered to your doorstep.
Cherry tomatoes – You can also use grape tomatoes if those are easier to find.
Olives – It’s easiest just to pick up a can of sliced, black olives.
Chili flakes – This is optional. It’s tasty, but not everyone enjoys spice in their pasta. It’s up to you.
Parmesan cheese – You can use regular, grated parmesan cheese, or plant-based parmesan if you need this to be dairy-free.
Salt and black pepper – Add to taste
Fresh basil leaves – While I give you a measurement for this, add that fresh basil with your heart. Use as much as you like!
How To Make Orecchiette Pasta Salad
Gather and measure all your ingredients.
Prepare the vegetables by first cutting the zucchini into bite-sized pieces and halving the cherry tomatoes. Set them aside.
Boil the orecchiette pasta in salted water in a large pot until it’s al dente, according to the package directions. Typically, this takes around 8-10 minutes.
Once done, drain the pasta using a colander and rinse it under cold running water to prevent it from sticking together and to stop the cooking process. Set the pasta aside.
While the pasta is cooking, heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the diced zucchini and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add some salt and black pepper to taste, and occasionally stir the vegetables until they turn golden brown and become tender.
Next, add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes until they become slightly softened and lightly browned.
Add the drained orecchiette to the skillet with the zucchini and tomatoes, and stir to combine all the flavors. Gently toss in the olives and mix them into the pasta.
Once everything is well combined, transfer the pasta salad to a large serving dish. Garnish the pasta with chili flakes (if using), Parmesan, and plenty of basil leaves.
You can either serve the pasta salad immediately or refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and makes for a delicious and refreshing meal. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Storage
Store leftover pasta salad, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing
Freezing is not recommended.
Reheating
To reheat, transfer the pasta salad to a microwave-safe dish and heat it in 30-second intervals until it’s warmed to your liking.
Recipe Supplies
More Healthy Pasta Salad Recipes
- Bow Tie Pasta Salad
- Vegetable Pasta Salad
- Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
- Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad
- BLT Pasta Salad
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Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe Card
Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 Large Skillet
- 1 pasta pot
- 1 colender
- 1 set of measureing cups
- 1 set of measuring spoons
- 1 serving bowl
Ingredients
- 12 oz. package orechiette pasta (whole grain or gluten-free)
- 2 cups diced, raw zucchini
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup sliced, black olives
- ¼ tsp. chili flakes (omit if you don't like spiciness)
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (use as much as you like. Best if chopped or sliced thin)
Instructions
- Gather and measure all your ingredients.
- Prepare the vegetables by first cutting the zucchini into bite-sized pieces and halving the cherry tomatoes. Set them aside.
- Boil the orecchiette pasta in salted water in a large pot until it's al dente, according to the package directions. Typically, this takes around 8-10 minutes.Once done, drain the pasta using a colander and rinse it under cold running water to prevent it from sticking together and to stop the cooking process. Set the pasta aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the diced zucchini and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add some salt and black pepper to taste, and occasionally stir the vegetables until they turn golden brown and become tender.
- Next, add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for another 2-3 minutes until they become slightly softened and lightly browned.
- Add the drained orecchiette to the skillet with the zucchini and tomatoes, and stir to combine all the flavors. Gently toss in the olives and mix them into the pasta.
- Once everything is well combined, transfer the pasta salad to a large serving dish. Garnish the pasta with chili flakes (if using), Parmesan, and plenty of basil leaves.
- You can either serve the pasta salad immediately or refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together and makes for a delicious and refreshing meal. Serve chilled or at room temperature.