Mediterranean Gluten Free Pasta Salad
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This easy Gluten-Free Mediterranean Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh flavors! This healthy gluten free pasta salad recipe makes the perfect Summer, BBQ, or picnic side dish recipe!
If you love Mediterranean pasta salad or Greek pasta salad, then this Mediterranean Gluten Free Pasta Salad is about to be your new favorite! This wholesome recipe makes for a perfect cold side dish, lunch, or light meal. BONUS: This recipe comes together quickly and easily!
This post was developed in paid partnership with Cedar’s Foods. Thank you for being supportive of me working with brands I use and love!
Looking for another great Mediterranean-inspired recipe? Check out this perfectly delicious Mediterranean Mezze Platter!
This post was developed in paid partnership with Ceder’s Foods. Thank you for being supportive of me working with the brands I love.
Best Pasta Salad Recipe
I adore pasta salad and this is one of my favorite gluten free dinners! There is truly nothing better than a large bowl of perfectly cooked (al dente) pasta…or is there?
Getting stuck in a recipe rut happens to the best of us. It’s easy to always make our favorite “go-to” recipes without thinking twice. However, this Summer (or any time of year), step out of the box with this simple ingredient and super easy pasta salad meal!
Summer barbecues and easy grill nights are famous for always having burgers, brats, hotdogs, and pasta salad. Forget store-bought, and say hello to the best homemade gluten free pasta salad recipe around.
This delicious pasta salad features incredible ingredients like olive oil, red onion, cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, creamy hummus, and feta cheese!
What are you waiting for? This flavorful side dish (that can also be served as a main dish) waits for no one! Grab those ingredients, grab an apron, and let’s get cookin’!
Gluten Free Pasta Salad Ingredients
Pasta: for this recipe, I used my favorite brand of gluten-free pasta. You can also use Jovial gluten free pasta or regular pasta if you want.
Meat: for the perfect bite, you will want to ensure there is plenty of crispy prosciutto in your salad bowl.
Hommus: for those of you that follow me on Instagram, you know that Cedar’s Lemon Hommus is everything and more to me. The flavor is so delicious and perfect for this pasta salad. You don’t want to miss out on this ingredient! We’ll be using it to make a very delicious dressing.
From the garden: packed with so many fresh ingredients, you will need English cucumbers, red onions, cherry tomatoes, fresh mint, and fresh basil.
Wet ingredients: dijon mustard, lemon juice, and warm water.
Herbs and spices: nothing fancy is needed here, just some traditional black pepper.
Cheese: I used cubed feta cheese for this recipe. However, if you are looking to make this a dairy-free pasta salad, skip this ingredient!
How to make Gluten Free Pasta Salad
1. Preheat oven and cook pasta. Start by preheating your oven to 400° F. Once you have done that, cook your pasta according to box instructions, or until al dente. When the pasta is finished, transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water; this stops the pasta from continuing to cook.
2. Bake the prosciutto. Arrange the prosciutto on a foiled baking sheet in a single layer. It’s ok if the prosciutto tears or isn’t perfectly flat, it will still get crispy!
Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until it gets crispy. When finished, allow the prosciutto to cool and transfer to a cutting board. Grab a sharp knife and roughly chop the prosciutto.
3. Make Hummus Dressing. While your pasta is cooking and prosciutto is baking in the oven, mix together the Lemon Hommus from Cedar’s, dijon mustard, lemon juice, warm water, and black pepper.
4. Toss your “salad.” Once everything is done, grab a large mixing bowl and start assembling! Add the cooked pasta and half the dressing. Toss until the pasta noodles are fully coated.
Then add crispy prosciutto, cucumbers, red onions, cherry tomatoes, mint, basil, and feta cheese. Toss to combine and add more dressing as needed, or serve on the side.
Homemade Hummus Dressing
Although I love cooking, there is something so great about whipping together a homemade dressing in less than 5 minutes and having it change the entire dish.
Yes, I said it…in less than 5 minutes, you can make a delicious and easy dressing for your pasta salad.
All you need to make this creamy homemade dressing come together is the Lemon Hommus from Cedar’s, dijon mustard, lemon juice, warm water, and black pepper.
I like to make this dressing in a “large” batch because the remaining dressing is easy to keep in an airtight container and use the next day with veggies and other salads.
If you are unfamiliar with Cedar’s, I highly recommend checking them out! They have 32 different hummus flavors ranging from traditional to organic and even some with toppings!
My favorite part: Cedar’s Hommus is made from the freshest chickpeas, super savory tahini, and no preservatives giving you a healthy, homemade tasting, store-bought hummus option!
Tips For Cooking Gluten Free Pasta
Cooking gluten free pasta can be somewhat tricky. You can very quickly go from “it looks great” to “how did my pasta get sticky and gummy?”
The one thing to always remember about gluten-free pasta is that it is very different than its wheat counterpart. By following these simple tips and tricks, you will have the best gluten free pasta salad around.
- Add a little bit (about a tablespoon) of olive oil to your large pasta pot. This will keep from pasta from sticking together.
- Stir your pasta more than usual – this trick will also keep your pasta from sticking together.
- Give your pasta a QUICK 5 second rinse. This will keep it from continuing to cook. However, keep some of the pasta water around for later if your pasta starts sticking and getting clumpy. It will help loosen it.
- Toss your noodles immediately with olive oil, sauce, or your homemade dressing.
How do you keep gluten free pasta salad from getting hard?
When making pasta—even gluten free pasta, olive oil is your best friend! By using a touch of olive oil your pasta will have a great flavor, texture, and bite to it!
Does gluten free pasta get mushy?
Yes. Gluten free pasta has a tendency to get gummy, mushy, and/or stick together if it’s cooked for too long or too short. But it is possible to get perfectly al dente gluten-free pasta!
Pasta Salad Variations
Gluten Free Italian Pasta Salad: red peppers, black olives, bell pepper, artichoke hearts, crunchy veggies like zucchini, mozzarella cheese, deli meats, rotini pasta, green onions, fresh tomatoes, and Italian vinaigrette.
Spring Pasta Salad Recipe: cucumber, radishes, green bell pepper, onion, carrots, mayo, dill, and vinegar.
How To Make Vegan Pasta Salad
If you want to turn this pasta salad into a vegan and gluten free pasta salad, you can omit the prosciutto and substitute the feta cheese for vegan feta cheese or avocado.
Can I Make This Greek Pasta Salad Ahead of Time?
Yes, absolutely! This Greek pasta salad is really easy to prep ahead of time. However, I do suggest keeping the prosciutto separate so it doesn’t get mushy.
Also, if you toss the salad in advance, I suggest adding a bit more dressing the day of serving because the pasta will absorb a lot of it. Taste test first to see if you need to add more.
Keep your pasta salad in the fridge and covered with a tight-fitting lid or plastic wrap.
Tip!
Keep the prosciutto seperate and lightly heat in the microwave before serving.
What To Serve With Pasta Salad
I love serving pasta salad alongside steak or chicken. You can also serve it with shrimp! Here are a few more main dishes to serve with pasta salad:
More Delicious Side Dishes
- Roasted Yellow Squash
- Red Wine Mushrooms
- Green Beans With Bacon
- Garlic Parmesan French Fries
- Easy Roasted Broccolini
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Mediterranean Gluten Free Pasta Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz gluten free short pasta
- 4 oz thinly sliced prosciutto
- 1/4 cup Cedar's Lemon Hommus
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1/2 lemon, juice
- 1/3 cup warm water
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 english cucumbers, sliced into half moons
- 1/4 cup very thinly sliced red onions
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- feta cheese, cubed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F and cook pasta according to box instructions, or until al dente. When finished, transfer to a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the pasta from cooking longer.
- Arrange the prosciutto on a foiled baking sheet in a single layer. It's ok if the prosciutto tears or isn't perfectly flat, it will still get crispy! Bake for 10-12 minutes or until crispy. When finished, allow to cool and transfer to a cutting board. Roughly chop the prosciutto with a sharp knife.
- While the pasta and prosciutto are cooking, mix together the Lemon Hommus, dijon mustard, lemon juice, warm water, and black pepper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta and half the dressing. Toss until noodles are fully coated. Then add crispy prosciutto, cucumbers, red onions, charry tomatoes, mint, basil, and feta cheese. Toss to combine and add more dressing as needed, or serve on the side.
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