Description
A quick and forgiving recipe for a vibrant cilantro lime pasta salad, packed with plant-based protein and fiber from chickpeas and creamy texture from avocado and Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 batch Greek Yogurt Avocado Salad Dressing
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 packed cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2–3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil or 2–4 tablespoons water
- 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 375g box short pasta (rotini, fusilli, or penne)
- 1 19 oz can chickpeas
- 1 12 oz can corn
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- 1 small red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
- Lime wedges, for serving
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Sliced avocado
- Bell pepper, diced
- Jalapeño, minced
- Toasted pepitas or sunflower seeds
- Cooked shredded chicken or canned tuna (optional)
Instructions
- Make the cilantro lime dressing by blending avocado, Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil (or water), salt, and garlic until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
- Cook the pasta in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop cooking.
- While the pasta cooks, drain and rinse the chickpeas and corn. Pat chickpeas dry.
- Chop cucumber and dice the red onion. Prepare any additional veggies.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, chickpeas, corn, cucumber, red onion, and optional veggies.
- Spoon the cilantro lime dressing over the salad, starting with two-thirds of it. Toss gently and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Top with crumbled feta and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve immediately or chill for 30 minutes to enhance flavors.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. To keep the avocado from browning, stir in some lime juice before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pasta salad, cilantro lime, summer salad, vegetarian, healthy recipes, meal prep