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Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

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Enjoy this quick and elegant Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad, ready in under 30 minutes! It combines tender gluten-free pasta with a sweet and tangy homemade roasted red pepper sauce. Perfect for a healthy lunch, light dinner, or as a standout dish at your next BBQ, this salad is oil-free, gluten free, and dairy free, making it a great choice for a balanced meal or meal prep throughout the week.
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Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

I don’t even know where to begin with this pasta salad my friends! This pasta salad recipe is filled with rich, sweet and savory flavors that are complemented by the crisp, fresh vibrancy of summer vegetables and tender gluten-free pasta. I decided to roast my bell peppers for the dressing and it turned out so delicious, but storebought fire roasted red peppers are a great shortcut and work wonderfully as well! If you’ve never roasted your own peppers click here to check out my step by step tutorial. Roasting your own peppers is quick and easy and helps you control the ingredients that go into your sauce! 

Speaking of the sauce – this roasted red pepper sauce is unreal and has been a bit of a secret of mine for a while now. I’ve been perfecting the balance of the recipe for salads, and I think I’ve hit the jackpot! I can’t wait to hear what you think. This sauce infuses this pasta salad with a sweet and savory essence that’s simply unforgettable. Paired with a medley of crisp summer veggies and perfectly cooked pasta, this salad is designed to be a feast for the eyes, satiating for your appetite, and irresistibly delicious to your taste buds! It’s the perfect choice for a healthy lunch, a light yet satisfying dinner, or as a standout side at your next barbecue or summer gathering.

If you’ve been hanging out long enough you know how strongly I believe in the power of plant-based ingredients to create dishes that are not only delicious but also deeply satisfying and inclusive. Whether you’re hosting a picnic, looking for a balanced meal prep option, or just looking for a quick and tasty dinner that the whole family can enjoy, this Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad is sure to impress!

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad Ingredients

  • Gluten Free Rotini: Provides an excellent base for the salad as this style of pasta really captures all the sauce. My favorite gluten free noodle brand is Jovial! It’s made with one ingredient – organic brown rice flour, and the texture and consistency of the noodles are so good that even my gluten loving husband can’t taste the difference! Click here to try them out!
  • Tuscan Kale: Rich in nutrients and vitamins, kale adds a hearty texture that is softened by massaging with lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Click here to learn how to Massage your Kale!
  • Lemon: The acidity from the lemon brightens the flavors of the kale and balances the sweetness of the red peppers in the sauce.
  • Red Onion: Provides a sharp, slightly sweet crunch that contrasts nicely with the creamy sauce.
  • Cherry Tomatoes: Offer bursts of juiciness and add vibrant color to the salad.
  • Persian Cucumbers: Their crisp texture and mild flavor make them a refreshing addition to any salad.
  • Yellow Sweet Corn: Adds a touch of sweetness and crunch, complementing the smoky flavor of the roasted red peppers.
crispy kale in a wooden salad bowl

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Ingredients

  • Roasted Red Peppers: The star of the sauce, and quite frankly this recipe! These peppers are roasted to enhance their sweetness and smoky depth. You can easily roast your own by following this tutorial.
  • White Miso Paste: Contributes a savory depth to the sauce, enriching the umami flavors.
  • White Balsamic Vinegar: Provides a mild tang that balances the sweetness of the peppers and maple syrup.
  • Maple Syrup: Adds a natural sweetness that helps intensify the other savory and tangy flavors in the sauce.
  • Tahini: Offers a creamy texture and a slight nuttiness to the sauce, making it rich and fulfilling. Almond Milk, soy milk, a heavy dairy-free cream or mild seed butter can also be used in its place to help achieve the same creamy texture of this sauce.
  • Dijon Mustard: Introduces a sharp tang that complements the sweet and savory elements.
  • Garlic Powder: Brings a warm, aromatic element to the sauce.
  • Salt and Pepper: Season to your personal preference with these two ingredients.
  • Dried Basil: Adds a herbal note that pairs beautifully with the sweet and tangy components.
  • Paprika: Gives a gentle heat and smokiness, echoing the roasted nature of the peppers.

How to Make Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

This whole recipe begins with massaging your kale! Click here to learn how to massage kale. Place the kale in a large salad bowl, drizzle with lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and optional olive oil. Use your hands to massage the kale for 15-30 seconds until it becomes tender. This process helps soften the kale and makes it more palatable. It’s best to have your kale prepared because the rest of this salad moves quite quickly once you’ve got your pasta boiling. Cook your pasta according to the box and once it’s cooled down add it along with the red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and sweet corn to the bowl.

How to Make Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

You can opt to roast your own peppers – follow this tutorial here or use store-bought roasted red peppers. To make the sauce, combine all sauce ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or maple syrup as needed.

Pour the freshly blended sauce over the salad ingredients and toss to combine. This salad is perfect to serve immediately or can be refrigerated until ready to serve. If preparing for meal prep, keep the dressing separate and add just before serving to maintain the best texture and flavors.

Ways to Use Red Pepper Sauce

This versatile red pepper sauce isn’t just for pasta salad! I’ve tried it as a warm pasta sauce, in addition to grilled vegetables, as a party dip with fresh veggies, and even as a flavorful spread on sandwiches and wraps! It is so versatile and stores well in the refrigerator.

What to Serve with this Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

Pair this flavorful salad with grilled tofu, hearty chickpeas, or serve it alongside other picnic favorites at your next outdoor gathering. It also goes really nicely with a simple garden salad.

Why You’ll Love This Red Pepper Pasta Sauce

This red pepper pasta sauce is loved for its creamy texture, and the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors. It comes together in a jiffy! You can make this salad in a pinch with in season ingredients and pantry staples. This pasta salad recipe is also incredibly easy to customize, you can serve it warm or cold and the addition of more vegetables or crispy tofu never hurts!

Have you tried this recipe?

Don’t forget to leave a comment and share your thoughts. Try these other amazing summer pasta salad recipes:

Lemon Poppyseed Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Chickpea Pasta Salad

Jackie Akerberg

Author of the Clean Vegan Cookbook, Food Blogger and Recipe Developer from Des Moines, Iowa. 

Jackfruitful Kitchen has proudly been featured in Forks Over Knives, Vegan Bowls, Vegan Food and Living, and DSM Magazine.

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Creamy pasta salad with rotini, kale, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, corn, and red onion
Jackie Akerberg

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad

5 from 4 votes
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Enjoy this quick and elegant Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad, ready in under 30 minutes! It combines tender gluten-free pasta with a sweet and tangy homemade roasted red pepper sauce. Perfect for a healthy lunch, light dinner, or as a standout dish at your next BBQ, this salad is oil-free, gluten free, and dairy free, making it a great choice for a balanced meal or meal prep throughout the week.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Pasta, Salad

Equipment

  • stove

Ingredients
  

Pasta Salad Ingredients
  • 8 oz gluten free rotini, cooked and cooled
  • 1 small bunch Tuscan kale, stems removed, finely chopped
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tsp olive oil, optional
  • pinch of salt
  • ¼ red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 Persian cucumbers, sliced
  • 1 cup yellow sweet corn
Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Ingredients
  • ½ cup roasted red peppers, 2 large red bell peppers, roasted and cooled
  • 1 tbsp white miso paste
  • 2 tbsp white balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 3 tbsp tahini
  • ½ tsp dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt and pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp paprika

Method
 

  1. Begin by adding your kale to a large salad bowl and seasoning with lemon juice, salt and optional olive oil. Use your hands to massage for 15-30 seconds until tender. Add the remaining salad ingredients to the bowl with the kale.
  2. Add all ingredients for the dressing to a blender and puree until smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt, pepper, or adjust sweetness to your liking with additional maple syrup.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. This salad can be prepared up to 48 hours in advance. If you're prepping it for a week of meal prep, wait to dress until ready to eat.

*Macros are provided as an estimate for convenience. Your final numbers will vary depending on ingredient brands, substitutions, and how you portion the recipe.

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8 Responses

  1. 5 stars
    This was such a delicious recipe! I followed the recipe exactly and wouldn’t change a thing. So good!

    Reply

  3. 5 stars
    The sauce is amazing!! I used red wine vinegar in place of the white balsamic and almond butter in place of tahini since I didn’t have either of those and it still turned out absolutely delicious. This salad will be on repeat this summer.

    Reply

    1. Hey Janessa, I am so glad that you were able to make a substitution that worked for you and still enjoyed this recipe! Thanks for sharing your modifications and reviewing this recipe!

      Reply

  4. 5 stars
    This recipe was excellent! So flavorful and delicious. I used Lentil Rotini, for added protein, and it tasted great. Loved by all. Thank you!

    Reply
5 from 4 votes

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