Description
A refreshing and vibrant California Spaghetti Salad featuring perfectly cooked spaghetti tossed with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, colorful bell peppers, and red onions in a zesty lemon-Dijon dressing. Ideal for a light lunch or a chilled side dish during warm weather.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the vegetables: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers, and thinly slice the red onion. Combine all the chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper until well blended.
- Toss the salad: Add the cooled spaghetti to the bowl with vegetables. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then toss thoroughly until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Serve: Serve the California Spaghetti Salad cold as a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect for warm weather gatherings.
Notes
- For extra protein, consider adding grilled chicken or chickpeas.
- You can substitute the lemon juice with lime juice for a slightly different tang.
- Make sure to rinse the spaghetti after boiling to prevent it from sticking and to cool it for the salad.
- This salad can be made a day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator.
- Use fresh, high-quality olive oil for the best flavor in the dressing.
