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Thisgluten freepasta salad {vegetarian, low FODMAP & vegan options} with sweet grape/cherry tomatoes, peppery basil, and fresh, creamy ricotta cheese is a delicious solution when you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love! It’s just one of the recipes in my cookbook, 16 Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinner Recipes-FREE to download today!
Three Reasons You’ll Love This Creamy Gluten Free Pasta Salad…
- It’s SO incredibly easy to make. 10 minutes prep, 10 minutes cooking time. You’re done!
- It tastes like summer year round! Unlike traditional tomatoes, which really only taste good in the summer {am I right?!}, you can easily find delicious grape or cherry tomatoes throughout the year.
- It’s super versatile too.Choose your favorite gluten free (or regular) pasta. Swap the pine nuts out with other nuts. Following a low FODMAP diet? Use grated Parmesan instead of ricotta. Not a fan of basil? Try a different fresh herb, or even your favorite dried herbs.
This gluten free pasta salad has easily got to be one of my all time favorite easy dinner recipes, and my family loves it too!
It was inspired by a simple pasta dish I ate on a post-college trip to New York with my best friend. It was springtime, and rainy. We stayed with her brother in a tiny 1 bedroom apartment near Lexington and 2nd avenue.
One night he made us a pasta with olive oil, chopped tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella and I was hooked!
On second thought, That might have had something to do with the copious amounts of wine we drank. No judgement please🙂
Only now I make it with gluten free pasta, and mix up the cheese according to whim-like this version with fresh ricotta that takes the creaminess factor up a notch or two.
And now, I usually make it with a legume based pasta which really boosts the nutrition factor too!
If you’re new to legume based pastas, here are a few different brands to try, all which have about twice as much protein, and 4-8 x as much fiber as regular pasta, along with extra iron and calcium too.
- Tolerant Organic Green Lentil Pasta
- Banza Chickpea Pasta
- Modern Table Meals Lentil Pasta
- Ancient Harvest Lentil & Quinoa Pow Pasta
In addition to these legume based gluten-free pastas being extra nourishing, I also love them because my teenagers eat them without complaint. Win, win!
BUT if you don’t tolerate bean based pastas (i.e. if you’re on a low FODMAP diet), or you simply don’t like the taste, a few other gluten-free pastas my family and I like are:
- Ancient Harvest Corn Quinoa Pasta
- Jovial Foods Brown Rice Pasta
- RP’s Pasta (Fresh)
- Cappello’s Pasta ~ Super tasty and grain free, but on the pricey side.
You can find these gluten-free pastas in your local grocery store, on-line at Amazon {affiliate links above}, or, my favorite source isThrive Market which has great prices!
Gluten Free Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Basil, & Fresh Ricotta
Thisgluten freepasta salad with sweet grape tomatoes, peppery basil, and fresh ricotta cheese is a delicious solution when you need a quick and easy weeknight dinner everyone will love!
4.80 from 5 votes
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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 ounces gluten free pasta
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to directions, and drain.
While the pasta is cooking, slice the tomatoes in half and chop the basil and put both in a large bowl.
Add the cooked pasta to the bowl with the tomatoes and bail, then stir in the olive oil, ricotta cheese, and pine nuts. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Serve immediately, or keep in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Notes
- Low FODMAP Option:Make with corn/quinoa, brown rice, or other non-legume based pasta. Swap ricotta cheese for Parmesan or another low FODMAP cheese. If you are sensitive to cherry tomatoes, cut back on the amount or use regular tomatoes (chopped) which are lower in FODMAPs.
- Vegan Option: Omit ricotta or make with vegan ricotta, nutritional yeast, or any other favorite vegan cheese.
- I love making this withhigh fiber, high protein gluten free pasta made with lentils or chickpeas for an extra healthy dinner! Nutrition values are with lentil pasta.
- Feel free to substitute with any cheese, herbs/green leafy veggies, and nuts or seeds you have on hand.
- Serving suggestion: Fresh fruit and a simple green salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 590IU | Vitamin C: 17.9mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2.9mg
EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Course Dinner
Cuisine Gluten Free, Italian, Low FODMAP Option, Mediterranean, Vegan Option, Vegetarian
Keyword gluten free pasta salad, pasta salad, picnic recipes
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Let’s chat!
- What are your favorite easy weeknight dinners?
- If you’re struggling with weeknight dinner time, what else besides easy recipes would be most helpful to you and your family?
- Is there anything else would you add to thisgluten free pasta salad?
- Did you download your free cookbook? Let me know which recipes you’re looking forward to making the most!
EA Stewart
Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist
EA Stewart, MBA, RD is an integrative registered dietitian specializing in wellness nutrition, digestive health, autoimmune disease, brain health, and vibrant aging. She creates easy, plant-forward gluten-free recipes for a wide variety of diets including low FODMAP, Mediterranean, and more.
