There are few dishes that scream “quintessential summertime picnic,” more than pasta salad. But let’s be honest, not all pasta salads are created equally. In fact, while pasta salad is a summertime staple, it can also be sad, boring, and lacking flavor. Thank goodness this recipe is anything but that.
My Ultimate Green Pasta Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing is a delicious, flavorful pasta salad that is bursting with fresh herbs, bright veggies, and the most delicious tahini dressing. Make this recipe for your summertime picnics, bbqs, cookouts, and family gatherings – it definitely won’t disappoint!
Friends, when was the last time that you found yourself absolutely CRAVING pasta salad? If I can be honest, it was just last week. I was working on filming videos for TikTok and Youtube when I came across a video of a girl making a delicious looking pasta salad. After I realized I hadn’t had pasta salad in a LONG time, I realized… it’s time I come up with a delicious pasta salad recipe.
If you’ve been to my blog before (and if not… hi! I’m so happy you’re here!) then you may know that some of my favorite recipes to create are my salad recipes. From my favorite salad EVER (aka my Copycat Hillstone Macho Salad) to my most popular recipe of all time (aka my Ultimate Kale Salad with Creamy Tahini Dressing), to new favorites (like my Chicken Taco Salad with Tangy Avocado Lime Dressing), you can’t go wrong with a Kalejunkie salad recipe. I promise, they will truly change your life!
But back to this delicious pasta salad. As I mentioned earlier, not all pasta salad recipes are created equally, and thank goodness we have moved away from the days of pasta salads that are loaded with mayo! If you’ve been to my blog before, then you may know that I am NOT a fan of mayo – it’s why I’ve created recipes like my Mayo-Free Egg Salad and my Smashed Chickpea Avocado Salad Sandwich. So if you’re someone who’s not a fan of mayo-laden pasta salads, then friends, this recipe is for you.
What You Need to Make This Delicious Mayo-Free Pasta Salad
All you need are a few simple and easy ingredients to make the pasta salad recipe of your dreams!
- Pasta: Of course, you’ll need pasta to make pasta salad! I recommend using elbow-shaped pasta, but any pasta shape (or even gluten-free pasta!) works well here.
- Fresh Herbs: In this recipe, we’ll be using a combination of fresh mint, cilantro, and Italian parsley. Yum!
- Persian Cucumbers: Persian cucumbers are my favorite, because they’re small and crunchy and perfect in a pasta salad!
- Avocado: Avocados are full of delicious, healthy fats, and taste so good in this recipe. Don’t skip this!
- Olive Oil: In this recipe, you can really taste the olive oil in the dressing, so make sure to use it here. You can substitute avocado oil, if desired, but the flavor won’t be the same!
- Red Wine Vinegar: I love the flavor of red wine vinegar, so if you have it on hand, make sure to use it!
- Honey or Maple Syrup: To add a touch of sweetness to this dressing, you can use either honey or maple syrup. Both work well here!
- Tahini: By now, everyone that follows me knows that I have a mild obsession with tahini. Tahini is one of my favorite ingredients to work with, and it truly takes this dressing to the next level! I recommend using this brand of tahini. It’s just the best!
- Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice truly helps this dressing to come together.
- Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic in your dressings, because it truly adds the best flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: A little salt and pepper is necessary for any good pasta salad dish!
How to Make the Ultimate Pasta Salad Recipe
To make this pasta salad recipe, start by cooking your pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to salt your pasta water well, so that it comes out with the best flavor! Once it’s cooked, drain and rinse it well, and then place it into a large bowl.
Next, prepare the salad dressing by adding all of the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisking until fully combined.
Finally, assemble the salad. Chop the rest of your salad ingredients and add them to the bowl with the pasta, then slowly pour in the dressing. Toss to fully combine, then serve and enjoy! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a rating below! And of course, since I practically live on Instagram, tag me in your creations so I can see them and repost on my IG stories! Enjoy! xx
** Photography by Bea Moreno
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 14 oz Package Elbow Pasta, or substitute pasta of choice
- 1 Bunch Fresh Mint, chopped
- 1 Cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1 Cup Italian Parsley, chopped
- 3 Persian Cucumbers, chopped
- 1 Avocado, chopped
For the Dressing:
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 Tablespoons Tahini
- 1 Lemon, juiced
- 1 Clove Garlic, mashed
- Sea Salt & Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Start by cooking your pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to salt your pasta water well, so that it comes out with the best flavor!
- Then, drain and rinse your pasta and add it to a large bowl.
- Next, prepare the dressing by adding all of your dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisking to combine.
- Then, chop and prepare the rest of your salad ingredients and add them to the bowl with the pasta.
- Finally, pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss to fully combine. Serve immediately, or store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Enjoy!
Recipe In Action
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What others are saying
5 stars- tasty and healthy!
Yay! Thank you so much for making this recipe, and for leaving such a kind review, Marilyn!
Made this with my son’s help for Father’s Day. It was great! Dad said “this is really good”. I
I have been trying to find a gluten free pasta salad and we enjoyed this with Banda chickpea pasta. I’m curious to see how it keeps!!!!
I topped it with sprouted sunflower seeds for crunch.
Thank u for the recipe and inspiration!!
Woohoo! Amy, I am so thrilled that you and your son made this recipe! Thank you so much for making it, and for leaving such a sweet review!
This was so easy and tasty! We added sliced cherry tomatoes for a little acidity. The dressing is so good!
Yum! Cherry tomatoes sounds like a delicious addition, Anne! Thank you so much for making this recipe, and for leaving such a kind review!