Zesty Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts
Make this bright, refreshing pasta salad featuring zesty lemon dressing, peppery arugula, and toasted pine nuts. It is an easy, no-mayonnaise side dish perfect for summer gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 30 min
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz short pasta (like rotini or penne)
- 5 oz fresh arugula
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly with cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, toast the pine nuts. Place the pine nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring often, until golden brown. Remove immediately from the pan and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the bright lemon pasta salad dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, olive oil, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, fresh arugula, toasted pine nuts, and 1/2 cup of shaved Parmesan cheese.
- Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the pasta mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Serve immediately or chill for later. If serving later, toss again before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Notes
- For a main dish arugula pasta salad, add 1 cup of cooked, shredded chicken or drained chickpeas.
- To make the dressing even more zesty, add a splash of white wine vinegar.
- You can substitute walnuts or slivered almonds for the pine nuts if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 25
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 12
- Cholesterol: 10