Greek Pasta Salad with Tahini Dressing

This Greek Pasta Salad with Tahini Dressing is the perfect plant-based option to bring to potlucks, family gatherings, or a casual BBQ at home.

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Fresh pasta salad is a summertime go-to in our family, but it’s also something we love to enjoy all year long. This Greek Pasta Salad with Tahini Dressing is one we’re especially fond of. With healthy, delicious ingredients and a ton of flavor, it’s a staple recipe you’ll come back to time and again.

Why You’ll Love This Greek Pasta Salad

1. Perfect for Potlucks: This Greek pasta salad is a must have for a potluck or family gathering. Be sure to give the salad at least 30 minutes to chill in the refrigerator before serving.
   
2. Easy to Customize: The vegetables can easily be swapped for other options like diced celery, thinly sliced radishes, or julienned carrots. Try other protein sources in place of the chickpeas, such as edamame or white beans. The pasta noodles can be whole grain, gluten-free, or made from legumes (to increase the protein content).
   
3. Crowd-Pleasing: This dish is a hit with family and friends! If you have family members who are not a fan of chickpeas, you can just simply leave them out.
   
4. Plant-Based and Nutritious: Packed with whole-food, plant-based ingredients, this tasty side dish is perfect for anyone striving to eat a well-balanced diet.
   
5. Bursting with flavor and texture: The combination of creamy, crunchy, and tangy makes this pleasing to the taste buds and a delight to eat.

Healthy Balanced Ingredients

At Balanced by Plants, we’re all about having a good balance of health-promoting ingredients in our recipes. Here are some of the health benefits of the ingredients in this salad:

Whole Grain Pasta: Pasta doesn’t have to be off-limits in a healthy diet; in fact, we encourage eating a diet rich in whole grains. Whole grain pasta is actually very nourishing, with fiber, protein, and vitamins and minerals. The fiber and complex carbohydrates help stabilize blood sugar and support more balanced hormone levels.

Tahini: Having a good source of healthy fats combined with protein and fiber is great for providing steady energy. Tahini is a good source of protein, calcium, and healthy fats, plus it works well as a base for plant-based dressings and dips.

Chickpeas: Chickpeas are a good source of plant-based protein. A protein-rich diet can help protect metabolism, muscle retention, and bone protection as we age.

Veggies (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onion, Bell Peppers): “Eating the rainbow” has a host of benefits for our health. The tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and bell peppers in this recipe contain antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. All are excellent for reducing inflammation and supporting skin health.

How to Make Greek Pasta Salad with Tahini Dressing:

See the full recipe card with measurements and instructions below.

What You’ll Need:

Salad Ingredients

• Whole grain or high-protein rotini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Red onion
• Pitted Kalamata olives
• Red bell pepper
• Canned chickpeas
• Vegan crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Dressing Ingredients

• Tahini
• Lemon juice
• Red wine vinegar
• Garlic
• Dijon mustard
• Dried oregano
• Dried basil
• Thyme
• Maple syrup
• Salt & pepper
• Water

How to Make This Recipe:

1. Prepare the dressing and vegetables while you wait for the pasta noodles to cook. In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta by following the package directions. Cook the noodles al dente, then drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside until you are ready to assemble the salad.

2. While the pasta is cooking, prep all the vegetables and drain and rinse the chickpeas. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set it aside. (If it seems runny, keep in mind it will thicken a bit as it stands.)

3. Let’s assemble the salad! Toss everything together in a large bowl, including the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, red bell peppers, chickpeas, and vegan feta (if using). Add the dressing and toss it gently to coat.

4. Put the salad in an airtight container and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours.

5. Serve chilled. Make sure to toss the salad once more before serving.

Notes:

Storage: This Greek pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You may need to give it a stir and add a splash or two of water before serving. If you plan to meal prep, store the ingredients separately and mix them together a couple hours (or at least 30 minutes) before serving.

Tips:

Adjust the Dressing: After whisking together the ingredients for the dressing, taste it and adjust the flavors to your preference. Depending on the brand of tahini, it may have a thicker or thinner consistency. Decide if it needs more salt, pepper, maple syrup, lemon juice, or vinegar to balance the sweetness and tang. If it’s on the thicker side, add a little more water to thin it out.

Chill Longer for Deeper Flavors: We like to allow this salad to chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to come together; however, a deeper flavor can be achieved after a couple hours of refrigeration.

Vegan Feta Alternatives: Replace vegan feta with other options if you can’t find it or don’t like the flavor. Try things like other vegan cheeses (cut into cubes), toasted sunflower seeds, or chopped nuts. Or you can omit the feta and it will still be just as flavorful!

Make Ahead: This salad can be made ahead of time for meal planning. Prep and store the vegetables and cooked pasta separately in airtight containers. On the day you wish to serve this, toss everything together in a large bowl (including the dressing) and let it chill at least 30 minutes before serving (can be chilled for several hours ahead of time, if desired).