This pasta salad is a delicious medley of seasonal ingredients and flavors that capture the essence of autumn. To create this delightful pasta salad, start with a box of chickpea or lentil pasta. These legume-based pastas provide a nutritious and gluten-free base for your dish.
Toss in a half-red onion, sliced into thin pieces, and add the sweetness of an apple, sliced into small, bite-sized pieces. These ingredients bring a wonderful balance of flavors and textures to the salad. For a protein boost, consider including four cooked chicken sausage links. These savory sausages add a rich and hearty element to the salad.
To add a touch of freshness, incorporate a cup of arugula, which offers a peppery note and a vibrant green color to the dish. You can also sprinkle a quarter-cup of gorgonzola crumbles, or use your favorite cheese, to elevate the flavor profile with a creamy and tangy note.
For the dressing, whisk together two tablespoons of olive oil, a quarter-cup of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons of fresh orange juice (equivalent to half an orange), one tablespoon of Dijon or brown mustard, and half a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. This dressing infuses the salad with a zesty and tangy essence.
Toss all these ingredients together, and you'll have a Fall Pasta Salad that's perfect for the autumn season. Enjoy the mix of flavors, from the sweetness of apple to the richness of gorgonzola, and savor the deliciousness of fall in every bite!
INGREDIENTS
1-8 oz. box chickpea or lentil pasta
1/2 red onion, sliced
1 apple, sliced into small pieces
4 chicken sausage links (cooked)
1 c arugula
1/4 c gorgonzola crumbles (or your favorite cheese)
-
Dressing
2 T olive oil
1/4 c apple cider vinegar
2 T fresh orange juice (1/2 an orange)
1 T Dijon or brown mustard
-
1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
STEPS
Pasta: Cook pasta according to box directions and place in a large bowl. Add all other ingredients and dressing, stir. That’s it. The chicken sausage I used was fully cooked so I didn't heat it up. But you can! Yummy hot or cold.
Dressing: Place all ingredients in a covered jar and shake well.
Fall Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1-8 oz. box chickpea or lentil pasta
- 1/2 red onion, sliced
- 1 apple, sliced into small pieces
- 4 chicken sausage links (cooked)
- 1 c arugula
- 1/4 c gorgonzola crumbles (or your favorite cheese)
- Dressing
- 2 T olive oil
- 1/4 c apple cider vinegar
- 2 T fresh orange juice (1/2 an orange)
- 1 T Dijon or brown mustard
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Steps
- Pasta: Cook pasta according to box directions and place in a large bowl. Add all other ingredients and dressing, stir. That’s it. The chicken sausage I used was fully cooked so I didn't heat it up. But you can! Yummy hot or cold.
- Dressing: Place all ingredients in a covered jar and shake well.
Nourishment Breakdown
Calories
280Fat
12.5 gStarch/Carbs
24 gProtein
30 gFiber
13 gPROTEIN chicken, pasta
FAT olive oil, cheese
FIBER arugula, onion
CARB/STARCH pasta, apple