Pasta-less salad
Here’s another attempt to take back week nights! It’s Monday, and we can’t forget to fuel our bodies with delicious, whole foods. Here in Mississippi summer is officially upon us. I’ve really been craving pasta salad, but it’s already too hot to even boil water so the spiralizer saved the day. I wanted this salad to have that traditional Zesty Italian dressing flavor but without all of the store bought additives. I combined fresh and dry Italian herbs and tried to get close. This “pasta” salad is just as delicious and filling as the carby kind. All of these ingredients were easy to come by at Kroger, and while there is a bit of involved chopping, this is mostly a straightforward salad. Eat well tonight, friends.
Ingredients
Salad
2 raw zucchinis either spiralized or chopped into very thin one inch rectangles*
1/2 cup black olives finely chopped
1/2 a red pepper finely chopped
1/2 a yellow or orange pepper finely chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes chopped in half
1/2 red onion finely chopped
4 pieces of bacon cooked, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces (optional)*
Zesty Italian Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons red white vinegar
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp of any fresh or dried Italian herbs on hand – oregano, parsley, thyme
1 tablespoon fresh basil chopped or 1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 teaspoon salt & pepper each
1 clove garlic minced (optional)
3 tablespoons grated parmesan (optional)
Directions: Prepare 4 pieces of bacon! I prefer the oven for ease and speed – typically about 20 minutes at 350 but if you are celebrating meatless Monday, this salad is just as good without the meat. Chop all veggies and mix with your hands in a large bowl. Sprinkle chopped bacon on top or mix in.
Make the dressing: Add all ingredients into either a salad shaker or mason jar and shake until combined. Toss the veggies with the dressing and either chill for 30 minutes or serve immediately!
*Makes about four servings and is even better the next day after veggies have marinated in the dressing!
*Grilled chicken or shrimp would also taste great in this salad! I just happened to only have bacon on hand, and I like to have a protein of some kind in every meal.
With Golden Beets & Turnips For All 