Italian Pasta Salad With Honey Balsamic Peppers Recipe

This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is really rustic in nature and is packed full of colorful, fresh ingredients. And the honey balsamic dressing also works perfectly as a dip for toasted ciabatta as well as a salad dressing.

Preparation Time 10 mins - Cooking Time 15 mins - Serves 4

1 large red pepper (capiscum)

1 large orange pepper

1 large yellow pepper

1 large red onion

400g wholewheat fusilli pasta

30g Italian parmesan shavings

2 tablespoons olive oil

handful of fresh basil leaves

Salad Dressing

4 tablespoons clear honey

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 2 lemons

Method

1. Cook the pasta in a pan of boiling water for the time indicated on the packet, approximately 13 minutes.

2. While the pasta is cooking, cook the peppers and red onion in a pan with the olive oil on a low-medium heat for approximately 8 minutes. You want the vegetables to be slightly soft but still retaining a little bit of crunch.

3. Combine all the Italian salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir well.

4. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and then place the pasta, vegetables and dressing together in a large bowl.

5. Stir well and garnish with some fresh basil leaves and the parmesan shavings.

Variations

If you prefer, you can cook the pasta in advance and serve it cold with the warm vegetables.

And although I prefer the taste and texture of wholewheat pasta, you can of course use white pasta if you like.

Top Tip

Dissolve a vegetable stock cube in the pan of boiling water before the pasta is added for extra flavor.

Nutrition Nugget

Many nutrition experts believe that the regular consumption of onions, including red onions, helps to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

Click here for more great salad ideas like this rustic Italian pasta salad recipe.

Or visit our full catalog of tasty vegetarian meals here.

P.S. We also now have a fantastic FREE monthly newsletter, Bon Appetit!, which you can sign up to for exclusive recipes, handy cooking tips and techniques, and honest product reviews.