Creamy Hummus Pasta Salad with Fresh Vegetables

Name: Creamy Hummus Pasta Salad with Fresh Vegetables
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 250 g short pasta of your choice; 400 g can chickpeas drained and liquid reserved; 200 g cherry tomatoes; 75 g pitted olives of your choice, roughly chopped; 50 g baby spinach roughly chopped; 0.25 cucumber quartered lengthways and cut into small triangles; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp tahini; 0.5 lemon; 0.5 clove garlic cloves, minced

A refreshing and nutritious pasta salad featuring a silky, homemade hummus dressing. Packed with crisp cucumbers, juicy cherry tomatoes, and protein-rich chickpeas, it's the perfect healthy lunch or side dish for any gathering.

Servings4 Portions

Prep Time20 Mins

Cook Time10 Mins

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

short pasta of your choice
250 g
can chickpeas drained and liquid reserved
400 g
cherry tomatoes
200 g
pitted olives of your choice, roughly chopped
75 g
baby spinach roughly chopped
50 g
cucumber quartered lengthways and cut into small triangles
0.3
extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp
tahini
1 tbsp
lemon
0.5
garlic cloves, minced
0.5 clove

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the hummus dressing: In a food processor, combine half of the chickpeas with half of their reserved canning liquid (the liquid should sit just below the level of the beans). Add the tahini, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Blitz until the mixture is smooth and has a loose, pourable consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook the pasta: Boil the pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve a small mug (about 240ml) of the starchy cooking water. Drain the pasta and rinse briefly under cold running water to cool it down.

Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, chopped spinach, halved cherry tomatoes, cucumber triangles, olives, and the remaining whole chickpeas. Pour the hummus dressing over the ingredients and toss until everything is well-coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it. Serve immediately or chill.

Chef's Tips

For the best flavor, let the salad sit for 30 minutes before serving to allow the dressing to meld with the ingredients. If making ahead, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 6 hours; add a tiny splash of water to loosen the dressing before serving if it has thickened.