Close
Photo: Andrea Mathis, M.A., R.D.N., L.D.
Active Time:10 minsTotal Time:1 hr 10 minsServings:6Jump to Nutrition Facts
Active Time:10 minsTotal Time:1 hr 10 minsServings:6
Active Time:10 mins
Active Time:
10 mins
Total Time:1 hr 10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:6
Servings:
6
Jump to Nutrition Facts
Jump to recipeEasy Tomato & Balsamic Pasta Saladis a recipe to keep on hand when you need a quick side, meal-to-go or an easy salad for your weekly meal prep. It tastes delicious right after you make it, but the flavor intensifies if you let it hang out in the fridge for a few hours. Antioxidant-rich tomatoes and onions are also both sources of vitamin C and fiber—great for your immune system. Bump up that fiber even more with whole-wheat pasta. Keep reading for our expert tips on smart ingredient swaps and how long to let this pasta salad marinate if you choose.Tips from the EatingWell Test KitchenThese are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!Our recipe calls for using bow-tie pasta. However, you can use any pasta you wish; some good options would be mini penne, shells or orecchiette.You can use regular tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes. And you can swap the white onion for a red. The red onion will have a sharper flavor, though.It’s best not to rinse the pasta when making a pasta salad. Keeping the starch on the pasta will help the dressing stick better.This pasta salad will taste better if the flavors mingle for 6 to 24 hours.Nutrition NotesTomatoesare a nutritious choice for this pasta salad. They are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant that has anti-cancer properties and provides heart health benefits. Tomatoes are almost 95% water and a low-carb vegetable choice anytime.White onionshave a milder bite than other types of alliums, such as garlic or red onion. All onions contain potent antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. If raw onions aren’t your thing, recipes like this pasta salad are perfect for gaining those health benefits. When onions are marinated in the dressing, their pungent bite lessens and leaves you with a fragrant crunch without losing the nutritional benefits.
Jump to recipe
Easy Tomato & Balsamic Pasta Saladis a recipe to keep on hand when you need a quick side, meal-to-go or an easy salad for your weekly meal prep. It tastes delicious right after you make it, but the flavor intensifies if you let it hang out in the fridge for a few hours. Antioxidant-rich tomatoes and onions are also both sources of vitamin C and fiber—great for your immune system. Bump up that fiber even more with whole-wheat pasta. Keep reading for our expert tips on smart ingredient swaps and how long to let this pasta salad marinate if you choose.Tips from the EatingWell Test KitchenThese are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!Our recipe calls for using bow-tie pasta. However, you can use any pasta you wish; some good options would be mini penne, shells or orecchiette.You can use regular tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes. And you can swap the white onion for a red. The red onion will have a sharper flavor, though.It’s best not to rinse the pasta when making a pasta salad. Keeping the starch on the pasta will help the dressing stick better.This pasta salad will taste better if the flavors mingle for 6 to 24 hours.Nutrition NotesTomatoesare a nutritious choice for this pasta salad. They are a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant that has anti-cancer properties and provides heart health benefits. Tomatoes are almost 95% water and a low-carb vegetable choice anytime.White onionshave a milder bite than other types of alliums, such as garlic or red onion. All onions contain potent antioxidants that help reduce inflammation. If raw onions aren’t your thing, recipes like this pasta salad are perfect for gaining those health benefits. When onions are marinated in the dressing, their pungent bite lessens and leaves you with a fragrant crunch without losing the nutritional benefits.
Easy Tomato & Balsamic Pasta Saladis a recipe to keep on hand when you need a quick side, meal-to-go or an easy salad for your weekly meal prep. It tastes delicious right after you make it, but the flavor intensifies if you let it hang out in the fridge for a few hours. Antioxidant-rich tomatoes and onions are also both sources of vitamin C and fiber—great for your immune system. Bump up that fiber even more with whole-wheat pasta. Keep reading for our expert tips on smart ingredient swaps and how long to let this pasta salad marinate if you choose.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
Nutrition Notes
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)Ingredients¼cupbalsamic vinegar plus 2 tablespoons , divided2tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil½teaspoonkosher salt¼teaspoonground pepper4cupsgrape tomatoes (about 19 ounces), halved½cupthinly sliced white onion⅓cupchopped fresh basilorparsley1poundcooked whole-wheat bow-tie pasta
Cook Mode(Keep screen awake)
Ingredients
¼cupbalsamic vinegar plus 2 tablespoons , divided
2tablespoonsextra-virgin olive oil
½teaspoonkosher salt
¼teaspoonground pepper
4cupsgrape tomatoes (about 19 ounces), halved
½cupthinly sliced white onion
⅓cupchopped fresh basilorparsley
1poundcooked whole-wheat bow-tie pasta
Directions
Whisk 1/4 cup vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add tomatoes, onion and basil (or parsley); stir to combine. Refrigerate, stirring once or twice, for at least 1 hour. Add pasta and the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar and toss well to coat.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can. It will stay good refrigerated for up to 3 days in an airtight container, which makes it a great salad for bringing to work. For best results, keep the dressing separate until you are ready to serve it.
Serve it as a side dish to roasted chicken or turkey slices like ourCrispy Roast ChickenorRoast Turkey with White Wine Gravy. Or serve it with a burger like ourClassic Beef Burgers with Cauliflower BunsorQuick Tuna Burgers. We would suggest including bread to capture any dressing that remains on your plate.
You can use either white or red, but the white is optimal because the red will give you a slightly stronger flavor and can dye your pasta red.
EatingWell.com, August 2021
Rate ItPrint
Nutrition Facts(per serving)250Calories6gFat42gCarbs7gProtein
Nutrition Facts(per serving)
- Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
Linda Frahm
