Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta Salad with Homemade Sun Dried Tomato Dressing

Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta Salad with Homemade Sun Dried Tomato Dressing 

During those hot summer months we love to cool off with refreshing recipes. These recipes keep you light and happy, not weighed down and bloated. This recipe combines all those refreshing summer flavors with a light pasta salad to make you wish summer never ends. With the light and fresh tomatoes paired with the classic flavors of basil, it brings that boring pasta salad up a notch. We love pasta salad and its always a favorite at any BBQ, change it up a bit and bring this. Your family and friends are sure to love this new and improved pasta salad and you don't have to tell them its vegan, just enjoy that they love it just as much as you. Serve it along side your favorite main dishes or make and take for quick lunches on the go. If you share it or keep for yourself, you are sure to enjoy it either way. Enjoy!

Vegan Tomato Basil Pasta Salad with Homemade Sun Dried Tomato Dressing

Ingredients

1 pound (16oz package) vegan pasta, I used nuggets (use those, spirals, or smaller sized pasta)
1 pound ripe tomatoes, medium-diced (including juice)
6 to 8 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

Optional

1 cup sliced olives, your favorite kind

1 to 1 1/2 cups vegan cheese, diced (favorite kind)

Dressing
8 to 10 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil (or favorite oil)
2 garlic clove, diced
4 teaspoon capers, drained
1 to 2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 cup packed flat-leaf parsley, lightly chopped

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

Directions

Cook a whole package of pasta according to package directions. Drain and aloud to cool before using. 

Drained, Cooked Pasta

For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, parsley, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.

Add Ingredients into Blender

Add in Herbs

Finished Dressing

Place the cooled pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, dressing and optional added ingredients. Stir to combine and let sit and blend flavors together for at least a few hours. 

Medium Diced Tomatoes

Add in Dressing

Add Tomatoes
(Juice and all)

Ready to Chill Salad

Once your pasta salad has sat for at least a few hours, remove from fridge and serve along side your favorite main dishes or take for quick on the go lunches. Store in the fridge, the longer is sits, the better it tastes over time. Enjoy!

-Amy