Pasta salad is something I usually associate with summer picnics, but I think it can work equally as well with autumn and winter flavours like pumpkin and I thought it would make a nice change for work lunches from soups!
You can really use any pasta you have in the pantry, but I’m personally a big fan of either these big spirals or a large shell for pasta salads. I also roast the veggies all in one pan which helps to not only reduce the washing up but allows the flavours to start to mingle whilst still in the oven. Yummo!
Ingredients List
- Half a butternut pumpkin
- 1 punnet mini roma tomatoes
- Red onion
- Red capsicum
- 300g pasta
- 250g baby spinach
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- Balsamic vinegar
Steps
- Preheat oven to 180C
- Peel and chop the pumpkin into bite sized pieces
- Peel and chop the red onion into roughly 8 wedges
- Halve the roma tomatoes and chop the capsicum into pieces
- Combine the pumpkin, red onion, tomatoes and capsicum on a tray and drizzle with oil and roast for 25 minutes, or until everything is just cooked
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta and set aside to cool
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan until golden brown, stirring regularly so they don’t burn
- Once cooked combine roasted vegetables with the pasta (including the oil from the roasting pan) and baby spinach in a serving bowl, sprinkle with the pine nuts and drizzle with balsamic vinegar
- Enjoy!
Regular readers here will know how much I love my colourful salads, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint! Plus, anything with pumpkin has got to be a winner!
Delish! I’m already waiting for lunchtime to roll around so I can eat some more of this!
Share the Love
I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!
Ingrid
June 23, 2014 at 6:13 pm (10 years ago)This looks so delicious and colourful and pretty!
I’m craving pasta at the moment after a week eating potatoes at my grandma’s. A girl can only handle so many potatoes, even though they’re my favourite 🙂
Ingrid recently posted…Smart or Not Smart: The Dutch Edition
I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
June 26, 2014 at 12:39 pm (10 years ago)I’m not sure I’ve ever had potato overload to be honest, but hopefully you get your hands on some pasta soon!