No Mayo Creamy Pasta Salad Recipe

This No Mayo Creamy Pasta Salad, is a game changer. No more mayonnaise, cream added to pasta salad. Make this light and healthier version which has lots of vegetables added which is tossed in a light yogurt salad dressing.

Pasta Salad

Salads are a life saver, specially during hot summer days. Sometimes salad may feel very light on tummy and you end up getting hungry soon. But not this salad, it is made with pasta which makes the salad much more substantial and filling.

Jump to:

• About Creamy Pasta Salad
• Ingredients
• Step by Step Pictures
• Expert Tips
• FAQ
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To make it more filling, I used more vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, pineapples, onions, cucumber. The more colourful veggies you use, the more pretty this salad looks. And this is a creamy salad which has no mayonnaise, sour cream or fresh cream added.

About Creamy Pasta Salad

This wholesome pasta salad is made with cooked pasta, vegetables tossed in a creamy salad dressing. It is a perfect clean your fridge kind of recipe. You can use any vegetables that are lying in your fridge, put it together and make a wholesome lunch or dinner.

Most recipes use mayonnaise as the base for dressings and I don't deny, it adds plenty of flavor and rich, creamy texture. However, it also adds quite a bit of extra calories. That's why I've come to love Greek yogurt as an alternative.

It gives dressings the same creamy mouthfeel, and is a lighter option that works beautifully in everything from salads to dips. It has become one of my favorite kitchen swaps.

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The salad dressing which I make for my pasta salad has greek yogurt as base. I also add grated garlic which gives a pleasant aroma that can never be matched. And mustard, honey, lemon juice, seasonings to make perfectly balanced sauce.

I made the salad entirely vegetarian, you can use chopped cooked chicken cubes, chickpeas, canned tuna, sauted tofu to make it more substantial.

And the vegetables which I used adds colours and taste. I also used pineapples which adds a sweet burst of taste to the salad. You can skip if you don't want to use it. You can add apples, pomegranate, grapes too.

More Salad that you will love is grilled chicken salad, honey mustard salad

Ingredients

• Pasta - You can use any shape pasta that you like. Cook as per package directions, strain and cool completely before using.
• Vegetables - You can use any veggies that you like, make sure to chop them small so it can be tossed into salad. I used cucumber, carrots, onions, bell peppers, olives, pineapples.
• Greek Yogurt - Greek style yogurt forms the creamy base for the dressing. It adds creamy texture without mayo.
• Salad Dressing - I used minced garlic, mustard sauce honey, salt, pepper powder, lemon juice for the dressing.
• Herbs - I used coriander leaves and green onions. You can chop basil and use in the salad.

Step by Step Pictures

1)Cook pasta in boiling salted water as per package directions. Strain and rinse them in cold water. Let it drain completely and allow them to cool down completely.

Take a mixing bowl, Add in greek yogurt. Make sure it is not sour, fresh and thick greek yogurt.

2)Add in minced garlic, honey, salt, pepper powder, lemon juice and mustard sauce.

3)Mix it really well. At this point you can taste and add any of the seasoning you like.

4)Add in the cooked and cooled pasta into the dressing. Make sure it is completely cold.

5)Now add in all the vegetables and fruits. I am using chopped onions, carrots, bell peppers, seedless cucumber, pineapples.

6)Toss everything really well so the veggies and pasta is tossed in the salad dressing.

7)Add in coriander leaves, sliced black olives, green onions.

8)Mix all of this together till combined. Place this in fridge and let it rest for 30 minutes before serving.

9)Serve cold.

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Expert Tips

• You can use any pasta shapes for making salad. I love penne, macaroni, fusili for making salads.
• Always cool the pasta completely till cold before adding into the dressing.
• Make sure the yogurt is greek style, else the dressing may be watery.
• If your yogurt is not greek style, you can pour it through a cheesecloth and let it sit for few hours in fridge so the excess whey can drip off.
• You can add any seasonings, herbs like oregano, dill or basil in the salad.
• Chopped apples, grapes, pomegranate adds sweet crunch this salad.

Serving and Storage

Leftover pasta can be stored in fridge upto 4 to 5 days. Enjoy pasta salad cold or at room temperature.

FAQ

Q: Which pasta shapes is best for making salad?

Short pasta shapes with lots of nooks and crannies, such as fusilli, farfalle, rotini, and penne, are great for pasta salad.

Q: Should I use only greek yogurt in pasta salad?

Yes, yogurt should greek style, else the dressing may be watery. If your yogurt is not greek style, you can pour it through a cheesecloth and let it sit for few hours in fridge so the excess whey can drip off. Check my homemade greek yogurt.

Q:Should pasta salad be served cold?

All the ingredients gets combined with the pasta and dressing as it sits for few hours in fridge. Pasta salad can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Q: How long can I store pasta salad in fridge?

Leftover pasta can be stored in fridge upto 4 to 5 days.

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If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @aarthi198689@gmail.com and I'll help as soon as I can.

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