Description
A vibrant and protein-packed pasta salad featuring creamy cottage cheese, fresh vegetables, and zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a light lunch or a nutritious side dish, this recipe combines the satisfying texture of rotini pasta with the freshness of cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, spinach, and a hint of oregano for a delicious Mediterranean flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 14 oz Barilla rotini pasta
- 1 large cucumber, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1.5 cups tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/2 cup spinach, chopped into 1/2-inch ribbons
Dressing and Seasoning
- 1 lemon (juice and zest)
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (Ken’s Steak House preferred)
- 1 pinch oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Protein
- 1.5 cups cottage cheese (Good Culture recommended for thickness and creaminess)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the 14 oz of rotini pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente, usually about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, dice the cucumber into 1/2-inch pieces, halve or quarter the tomatoes, dice the yellow bell pepper into 1/2-inch pieces, finely dice the red onion, and chop the spinach into ribbons approximately 1/2-inch wide. Set aside in a large mixing bowl.
- Mix the Dressing: Zest and juice the lemon into a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup of Italian dressing and a pinch of oregano. Whisk together to combine the flavors well.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In the large mixing bowl with the vegetables, add the cooled pasta and 1.5 cups of thick cottage cheese. Pour the lemon and Italian dressing mixture over the salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss and Serve: Gently toss all ingredients until evenly coated with dressing and cottage cheese is well incorporated to add creaminess. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to chill and meld flavors before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute the Barilla rotini with any short pasta shape like penne or fusilli.
- For a dairy-free version, replace cottage cheese with a vegan alternative like tofu ricotta or cashew cream.
- Chilling the salad before serving enhances the flavor blending and makes it even more refreshing.
- Add fresh herbs like parsley or basil to deepen the aroma and taste if desired.
- Use a low-sodium Italian dressing to reduce the salt content if needed.
