Cold pasta salads make great lunch boxes and are perfect for batch cooking. Today we share with you the recipe for a vegan And gluten free Pasta salad. We did it with Quinoa Pastaa fresh pistachio pesto, kalamata olives, sautéed broad beans and baby vine tomatoes.
Although we designed the recipe gluten-free (quinoa pasta does not contain gluten), you can use the same recipe with plain pasta as well. And even if you are gluten intolerant, you can choose which GF pasta you prefer. We like to use red lentil and quinoa pasta in our gluten-free recipes because they’re high in protein.
Quinoa pasta is very special when it comes to protein. Did you know that Andean millet Is to have the few plants complete proteins? Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids your body needs to synthesize proteins. If you follow a mostly vegan diet, be sure to eat a variety of foods to get all the amino acids your body needs. Or just eat quinoa and get them all in one go!
When it comes to pasta salads, the secret lies in choosing ingredients that preserve or even enhance their flavor when eaten cold. Vegetables are an ideal candidate, but some are better than others. Try to use ingredients that don’t go mushy and opt for those that stay crispy. For example, eggplant will go mushy after a day in the fridge, while beans will not.
These are the ingredients we used to make this pasta salad super healthy and flavorful. They taste fantastic both straight from the pot and the next day.
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tomatoes — a colorful and juicy source of vitamins A and C
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broad beans — for a tasty boost of protein and fiber.
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Black Kalamata olives — They are an excellent source of antioxidants and healthy unsaturated fats.
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Homemade pesto made with pistachios, basil and lemon. This green sauce binds all the ingredients together and makes the pasta creamy and refreshing.
Finally, this quinoa pasta salad makes for one hell of a balanced and nutritious meal. A satisfying bowl will give you 31% RDI for proteins, 38% RDI for fibersAnd 20% RDI for carbohydratesIn 445 calories. The recipe is quick and easy, ready only 30 minutes. Enjoy it!
frequently asked Questions
What is quinoa pasta?
Quinoa pasta is a type of gluten-free pasta made from a combination of grains and pseudo-grains. Although there are different varieties, the most common ingredients include quinoa, rice, corn and amaranth.
Rice and corn are grains commonly used in gluten-free products like pasta, bread, and pastries. Quinoa and amaranth are technically seeds or pseudo-grains, but they are prepared and consumed like grains.
High in fiber and protein, quinoa and amaranth provide a nutritious, gluten-free alternative to wheat.
Some brands of quinoa pasta also contain other ingredients like millet flour, green pea flour, or flax flour.
Are quinoa pasta low carb?
The amount of quinoa flour used in the pasta can vary widely from brand to brand, affecting nutritional value and total carbohydrate content.
It can range from as little as 5% to a whopping 90%, but we’ve found that 10% to 20% are the most common proportions.
Quinoa seeds themselves contain slightly fewer carbohydrates than grains like whole wheat, freekeh, bulgur wheat, brown rice, and barley[1]. So it’s safe to say that pasta with quinoa is slightly lower in carbohydrates. However, this is greatly affected by the type and amount of the other ingredients used to make the noodles.
We think quinoa pasta offers a great gluten-free alternative for people with celiac disease or those with gluten intolerance. However, quinoa is still considered a high-carb food in low-carb diets, like the ketogenic diet.
If you’re looking for a low-carb alternative to classic pasta, other options like edamame spaghetti, kelp noodles, or zucchini noodles are your best bets.
What is pasta salad? And are you warm or cold?
Pasta salad, also known as Pasta Fredda, is a very common dish in Italy, especially during the summer season as it is often served cold. Pasta salad is one of the most popular recipes at occasions such as an outdoor gathering with friends and family, a picnic in the park or on the beach, or a party.
The basic pasta salad recipe features Mediterranean flavors and ingredients like tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, tuna, and fresh basil. Other common ingredients include peas, zucchini, carrots, or peppers.
It really depends on your personal preferences in terms of ingredients and pasta choices. Any type of pasta will do, as long as it’s short. You can use penne, fusilli, flies (fall far) or seashells (conchiglie).
We recommend boiling the pasta al dentethat’s tough.
To do this, check the package instruction. If it gives you a cook time for “al dente” results, follow it. Otherwise taste the pasta 3-2 minutes before the end of the cooking time and then every 30 seconds.
Al dente pasta should feel soft on the outside but hard on the inside. Take a bite and check out the pasta. When you see a tiny white streak inside, the pasta is done.