Spring Pasta Salad

(1)

This flavorful and quick pasta recipe features the best of spring’s bounty. Peppery radishes and crisp sugar snap peas nestle up to casarecce, a twisted type of pasta that allows the delicious sauce to cling to its folds. (If you can’t find it, another short, textured shape such as penne or gemelli will work well.) A honey-mustard vinaigrette—spiked with shallot and lemon zest, thank you very much—coats each bite, while a shower of mint and salty ricotta salata at the end adds a bit of decadence. Serve with rosé or white wine and enjoy the quick prep time and minimal dish clean up.

Spring Pasta Salad Recipe
Photo: Caitlin Bensel
Hands On Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
25 mins
Servings:
4

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces casarecce or other short pasta

  • 12 ounces sugar snap peas, halved

  • ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot (from 1 shallot)

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 2 teaspoons honey

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 3 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 2 lemons)

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for water

  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • ½ cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, torn

  • ¼ cup thinly sliced radishes

  • 1 ounce ricotta salata cheese, grated (about ¼ cup)

Directions

  1. Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil over high. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, for 9 minutes. Add snap peas and cook, undisturbed, until pasta is al dente and peas are crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain; return pasta and peas to the pan. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pasta mixture and toss to coat. Let cool for 5 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, whisk shallot, mustard, honey, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Whisk in remaining ¼ cup oil until mixture is smooth.

  3. Transfer pasta and peas to shallot dressing and toss to combine. Stir in mint and radishes and top with cheese.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

546 Calories
21g Fat
75g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 546
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Cholesterol 8mg 3%
Sodium 666mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 75g 27%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 15g 30%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Related Articles