Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (2024)

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Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (1) Updated on August 23, 2018 with new recipe tips, gluten free pasta recommendations, and a FREE instant cookbook download-16 Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes.

Thisgluten freepasta salad {vegetarian, low FODMAP & vegan options} with sweet grape/cherry tomatoes, peppery basil, and fresh, creamy ricotta cheese is a delicious solution when you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love! It’s just one of the recipes in my cookbook, 16 Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes-FREE to download today!

Three Reasons You’ll Love This Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad…

  1. It’s SO incredibly easy to make. 10 minutes prep, 10 minutes cooking time. You’re done!
  2. It tastes like summer year round! Unlike traditional tomatoes, which really only taste good in the summer {am I right?!}, you can easily find delicious grape or cherry tomatoes throughout the year.
  3. It’s super versatile too.Choose your favorite gluten free (or regular) pasta. Swap the pine nuts out with other nuts. Following a low FODMAP diet? Use grated Parmesan instead of ricotta. Not a fan of basil? Try a different fresh herb, or even your favorite dried herbs.

This gluten free pasta salad has easily got to be one of my all time favorite easy dinner recipes, and my family loves it too!

It was inspired by a simple pasta dish I ate on a post-college trip to New York with my best friend. It was springtime, and rainy. We stayed with her brother in a tiny 1 bedroom apartment near Lexington and 2nd avenue.

One night he made us a pasta with olive oil, chopped tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella and I was hooked!

On second thought, That might have had something to do with the copious amounts of wine we drank. No judgement please🙂

Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (2) Ever since that trip, this pasta dish has remained a staple in my easy weeknight dinner repertoire.

Only now I make it with gluten free pasta, and mix up the cheese according to whim-like this version with fresh ricotta that takes the creaminess factor up a notch or two.

And now, I usually make it with a legume based pasta which really boosts the nutrition factor too!

If you’re new to legume based pastas, here are a few different brands to try, all which have about twice as much protein, and 4-8 x as much fiber as regular pasta, along with extra iron and calcium too.

Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (3)

In addition to these legume based gluten-free pastas being extra nourishing, I also love them because my teenagers eat them without complaint. Win, win!

BUT if you don’t tolerate bean based pastas (i.e. if you’re on a low FODMAP diet), or you simply don’t like the taste, a few other gluten-free pastas my family and I like are:

You can find these gluten-free pastas in your local grocery store, on-line at Amazon {affiliate links above}, or, my favorite source isThrive Market which has great prices!

Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (4)

Gluten Free Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Basil, & Fresh Ricotta

Thisgluten freepasta salad with sweet grape tomatoes, peppery basil, and fresh ricotta cheese is a delicious solution when you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love!

4.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to directions, and drain.

  • While the pasta is cooking, slice the tomatoes in half and chop the basil and put both in a large bowl.

  • Add the cooked pasta to the bowl with the tomatoes and bail, then stir in the olive oil, ricotta cheese, and pine nuts. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  • Serve immediately, or keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Low FODMAP Option:Make with corn/quinoa, brown rice, or other non-legume based pasta. Swap ricotta cheese for Parmesan or another low FODMAP cheese. If you are sensitive to cherry tomatoes, cut back on the amount or use regular tomatoes (chopped) which are lower in FODMAPs.
  • Vegan Option: Omit ricotta or make with vegan ricotta, nutritional yeast, or any other favorite vegan cheese.
  • I love making this withhigh fiber, high protein gluten free pasta made with lentils or chickpeas for an extra healthy dinner! Nutrition values are with lentil pasta.
  • Feel free to substitute with any cheese, herbs/green leafy veggies, and nuts or seeds you have on hand.
  • Serving suggestion: Fresh fruit and a simple green salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 590IU | Vitamin C: 17.9mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2.9mg

EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Course Dinner

Cuisine Gluten Free, Italian, Low FODMAP Option, Mediterranean, Vegan Option, Vegetarian

Keyword gluten free pasta salad, pasta salad, picnic recipes

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Craving more easy, healthy, family friendly dinner recipes? Instantly download your FREE cookbook, 16 Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes!

Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (5)

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Let’s chat!

  • What are your favorite easy weeknight dinners?
  • If you’re struggling with weeknight dinner time, what else besides easy recipes would be most helpful to you and your family?
  • Is there anything else would you add to thisgluten free pasta salad?
  • Did you download your free cookbook? Let me know which recipes you’re looking forward to making the most!

EA Stewart

Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

EA Stewart, MBA, RD is an integrative registered dietitian specializing in wellness nutrition, digestive health, autoimmune disease, brain health, and vibrant aging. She creates easy, plant-forward gluten-free recipes for a wide variety of diets including low FODMAP, Mediterranean, and more.

Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad + a FREE Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cookbook (2024)

FAQs

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

Can gluten free pasta be eaten cold? ›

Can You Eat Gluten Free Pasta Cold? Just like traditional gluten -containing pasta, you can eat gluten free pasta cold. And it can be quite delicious. But I've found that pasta salad retains its moisture best if it is dressed while it's still hot, and that you use enough dressing to thoroughly coat each pasta strand.

Does Greek salad contain gluten? ›

Greek Salad is basically a Mediterranean salad. It's naturally gluten-free (although I've been known to sprinkle in some crunchy croutons) and typically combines fresh ingredients like crisp cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, red onion, kalamata olives (or black olives), and feta cheese.

Is suddenly salad gluten free? ›

No. This product is not gluten free as it lists 1 ingredient that contains gluten and 1 ingredient that could contain gluten depending on the source.

Should you rinse pasta when making pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Do you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

Do not rinse the pasta, though. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. Rinsing pasta will cool it and prevent absorption of your sauce. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad.

Why does my gluten-free pasta salad get hard? ›

How do you keep gluten-free pasta from getting hard? Usually when you cook pasta “al dente” is the norm (which means cooking pasta until it's just done and not overly soft). Since gluten free pasta has a tendency to become firmer as it cools, it's important to cook the pasta until it's soft, but not mushy.

How do you make gluten-free pasta taste better? ›

Don't forget to salt the water.

On its own, gluten-free pasta is really pretty tasteless. It needs seasoning, in the form of salt, just like regular pasta. After the water comes to a boil, add enough salt to make the water taste like the ocean (about 1/4 cup for a large pot of water), before adding the pasta.

Why can't you reheat gluten-free pasta? ›

Unfortunately, it is not advisable to reheat gluten-free pasta because it is made of corn and rice, both of which break down more quickly and easily than wheat. As a result, gluten-free pasta tends to become mushy and tasteless when cooked a second time.

Why is mayonnaise not gluten-free? ›

When it comes to mayo, its traditional ingredients are usually gluten free. However, according to the Gluten Intolerance Group, those with celiac disease should avoid mayonnaise made using malt vinegar, as it derives from barley, a gluten-containing grain.

What is the best lettuce for celiac disease? ›

Romaine Lettuce | Eat! Gluten-Free.

Is balsamic vinegar is gluten-free? ›

Traditional balsamic vinegar is made solely from grape juice that is boiled and then aged in wooden casks. This type of vinegar does not have any gluten-containing ingredients or additives, making it safe for individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Which salad cream is gluten free? ›

While not certified gluten-free, Heinz Salad Cream does not contain any gluten ingredients and is considered gluten-free.

Can you eat lettuce on a gluten free diet? ›

Vegetables – All vegetables are naturally gluten free. You can eat a wide variety to get the vitamins and minerals you need. A few examples are zucchini, green beans, peas, lettuce, carrots, eggplant, peppers, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and potatoes. Fruits – All fruits are also naturally gluten-free.

What can I eat that is gluten free instead of salad dressing? ›

Mayonnaise, which is generally thickened with eggs, is almost always gluten-free. Yogurt- or buttermilk-based dressings. Perfect for creamy spring salads, dressings made with dairy tend to be gluten-free because they don't require artificial thickeners.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

When creating a salad what 5 factors should you consider? ›

But today, I am going to teach you how to make a salad without using a recipe so you, too, can become a salad artist. Sound like a deal? There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

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