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–+ servings
5 from 2 votes

Warm Asparagus Pasta Salad

This warm pasta salad is perfect for summer! Roasted asparagus, my creamy balsamic dressing, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and herbs will make this pasta salad a repeat dish all summer!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time30 mins
Servings: 6
Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the asparagus:

  • 7 asparagus spears, cut on the bias to 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar

For the herbs and veggies:

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 11 olives, sliced (I use manzanilla, but kalamata would also be delicious)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano, minced

For the Creamy Balsamic Dressing:

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp Vegenaise, (or mayonnaise)

Everything else:

  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cubes, (be sure to freshly cube the cheese yourself! You can also omit the mozzarella to keep this recipe vegan)
  • 1 15 oz can garbanzo beans
  • 1 15 oz can red kidney beans
  • 3/4 pound spaghetti
  • Fleur de sel, for finishing

Instructions

Make the dressing

  • In a small bowl, add the garlic, salt, and pepper, followed by the olive oil, Vegenaise, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar. Now simply whisk everything together with a fork.
  • Keep whisking until the dressing emulsifies. (Or comes together completely and there is no separation between the oil and the other ingredients.) This could take a minute or two, so don’t worry, just keep whisking until you get there.
  • Dressing is done!

Cook the pasta and chop the veggies & herbs

  • Cook the pasta according to package instructions.
  • While the pasta cooks, chop the veggies, herbs, cheese, and roast the asparagus.

Roast the asparagus

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F
  • Lay the asparagus pieces on a standard-sized baking sheet.
  • Drizzle the olive oil, vinegar, and sea salt over the asparagus, then mix everything together with your hands.
  • Roast at 375 degrees for 12 minutes, until the asparagus is cooked but still has a bite to it.
  • Asparagus is done!

Put it all together

  • One the pasta has finished cooking, drain it, and put it back in the pot.
  • While the pasta is still warm, add the mozzarella cubes and dressing to the pot. (I use all the dressing, but you can start with about half, and then add more to taste.) Toss until the dressing begins to incorporate, and the cheese begins to melt.
  • Now add everything else to the pot, and mix to incorporate. Tongs are a great tool here for making sure that all the veggies, herbs, and beans get evenly distributed.

Finish with fleur de sel (or sea salt)

  • Finish the dish with 1/2-1 tsp fleur de sel. Start with 1/2 tsp, stir to incorporate, and taste. Leave as is if you like the salt level, or add the remaining 1/2 tsp fleur de sel.

Serve and enjoy!

  • This is a filling meal all by itself, but it is also delicious when served over a bed of spinach with a side of Gardein, Beyond Meat, or your favorite meat substitute.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

This dish is vegetarian!
This dish is vegan if you omit the mozzarella cubes.
This dish is gluten free if you use gluten free pasta.