I love making this mayo-less pasta salad with arugula, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, capers, fresh shaved Parmesan cheese and a splash of balsamic and oil. It's great for lunch or dinner, and has a healthy serving of baby greens. In the summer, when tomatoes are at their sweetest, I replace the sun dried tomatoes with fresh tomatoes from my garden.
I usually have this for dinner on those warmer nights when I want a meatless meal or just something light, and because it has pasta in it, I feel full and satisfied after I eat it. The portions are pretty large for under 200 calories (only 5 WW points plus). This also makes a great side dish if you reduce the portions when you're grilling up some burgers or chicken.
Summer Pasta Salad with Baby Greens
Skinnytaste.com
Servings: 4 • Size: about 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 3 pts • Weight Watcher Points+: 5 pt
Calories: 169 • Fat: 5 g • Carb: 29.5 g • Fiber: 4 g • Protein: 6 g • Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 271 mg (without the salt) • Cholest: 2 mg
Ingredients:
- 3 oz (about 4 cups) baby arugula and baby spinach mix
- 5 oz high fiber or whole wheat pasta (use brown rice pasta for GF)
- 1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp capers, drained
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- salt and fresh pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp freshly shaved Parmigiano Reggiano
Directions:
Boil pasta in salted water according to package directions. When done, drain and rinse under cold water.
In a large bowl, combine the pasta, baby greens, sun dried tomatoes, capers, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss well then just before serving top with fresh shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.
Makes about 6 cups.





















This looks delicious! I'm definitely snagging this recipe to try next week!
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome! As usual can't wait to try it :)
ReplyDeleteCan't Wait To Try. Think I might even add some fresh mushrooms as an extra "filler".
ReplyDeleteSure, sliced grape tomatoes are a great addition too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful salad for summer! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love arugula- looks fantastic with the pasta!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to my first WW meeting tonight! I have all the veggies in the world because I run a CSA! I had an illness that packed on 50lbs so time to get back into shape. I have a daughter that is 100 lbs overweight, please pray she goes with me tonight! She loves to cook so hopefully your site will encourage her.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've loved 99.9% of what I've made from your site, I admit that I was skeptical about this one. Boy was I wrong! It was even more delicious than it was easy. I'm glad I waited until I had arugula, though, as it wouldn't have been the same without the bite of the greens.
ReplyDeleteI LOVEEEE this salad! The arugula really does makes it. So happy you enjoyed it!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a unique and wonderful approach to pasta salad! It was delicious fresh, but don't try to keep leftovers. The arugula wilted and took on a slimy texture I can't handle. Still, I'll make it again!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, this should be eaten at once!
ReplyDeleteThis was so wonderful and easy, and hearty enough for a main course! It'll definitely be a go-to for me in the future. I used Pecorino Romano instead (since that's what I had in the fridge) and it was delicious. Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteI love this one too! I fell like this one is a hidden gem amongst all my recipes. :)
ReplyDeleteJust made this today...SO good!! I love your site!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! So happy to find summer salad options that aren't drowning in mayo : )
ReplyDeleteGina, this looks delicious but out of my own ignorance what exactly is a caper? Is it something I could leave out or substitute with something else? I'm a huge fan of the site, keep the veggie recipes coming! : )
ReplyDeleteCapers are tiny, sour berries. In jars. Italian aisle.
DeleteJust made this with dinner tonight. Added grape tomatoes as you suggested. So yum!!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is so perfect! It's light and summery but it has so much flavor! Love it-thank you for all your awesome recipes. :)
ReplyDeleteGina, did anyone ever respond to you about what a CSA is? The acronym stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is basically a weekly installment of fresh produce from a farm local to your area! From my experience, I've found that you sign up by season (I'm currently admist the "summer" season which goes from early May to just after Thanksgiving) and there are two options for the size of your produce shipment. You should definitely look into it!
ReplyDeleteIn other news, thank you so much for all the great recipes and inspiration!
I'm on a 2 yr wait list!
DeleteHi Gina! Would you use sun-dried tomatoes in a jar or in a bag? I'm thinking either way...
ReplyDeleteI buy mine in a container or bag, it's usually ready to eat. Not the one that is packed in oil.
DeleteMayo-less pasta salads make up a good portion of my go-to summertime meals. The punch of flavor from the sun-dried tomatoes and Parm would make this a great one to add to the list.
ReplyDeleteUna pasta davvero invitante, fresca e leggera come piace a me!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I love pasta salads :)
ReplyDeletehttp://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com
Is the 5oz of pasta used cooked or uncooked?
ReplyDeleteI mean in the calculation. Cooked verus uncooked in a calculation makes a difference
Deleteuncooked
DeleteOOO. Arugula and sundried toamtoes- one of my favorite summer flavor combos! This makes me long for iced tea and the grill!
ReplyDeletePerfect summertime meal! Especially with fresh cherry tomatoes!
ReplyDeleteI love this salad, I made it last summer and it was perfect for lunch.
ReplyDeleteLovely pasta salad for summer entertaining! It looks so scrumptious and easy!
ReplyDeleteLovely pasta for summer!! Yummy use of balsamic and sun dried tomatoes :)
ReplyDeletePinning this!!! Looks so good!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely salad. And only 5 points? Can't wait to try this one!
ReplyDeleteSounds yummy! As the mom of a 6 month old, I'm always looking for easy healthy meals for myself since the husband works 2nd shift. This sounds like it'll fit the bill quite nicely!
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious and as always I can't wait to try but got to have the money to buy the stuff. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIt looks so good! Thank you for the recipe!
ReplyDeletehttp://aboutdrama.blogspot.ru
Wow, those sun dried tomatoes make this salad look really delicious. I've got to try this one out!
ReplyDeleteS&R
http://www.CattailDown.Typepad.com
Follow us on Blog Lovin'!
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/7118895/cattail-down
Yum this looks so good! Now bookmarking the recipe to try out soon. Thanks for sharing <3 xx
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect for me, as I am that rare breed that hates mayo, and thus despise potato salad, egg salad and macaroni salad! They give the word salad a bad name! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThis is perfect for me, as I am that rare breed that hates mayo, and thus despise potato salad, egg salad and macaroni salad! They give the word salad a bad name! Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteThis pasta is just packed with amazing flavours!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great Salad. I made it today and it's so incredibly tasty! I am gluten free so I used a corn pasta that worked out really well. This recipe is a keeper. Thank you so much! For my husband I may make it next time with chicken too and call it a meal!
ReplyDeleteGina, this looks great! Do you think it would be good with cooked spinach instead of raw arugla and spinach?
ReplyDeleteJust made this an it is fantastic!! I had never had arugula before and am sort of on the fence about capers, but made the recipe just as posted and I love it. Going to have some more for dinner with a bit of grilled chicken added to it!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMade this for dinner tonight and it was fantastic!! Even my hubby loved it. I subbed in fresh tomatoes and served with broiled swai fillets. Yum!!
ReplyDeleteDelicious! Really light, but great flavors. A great dish when it's hot outside.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds absolutely delicious!
ReplyDeletemaking this tonight, this will fill me up but the finacee he can make himself a burger and will call it a meal :-)
ReplyDeleteI just made this for lunch tomorrow but I'm excited to try it! I left out the capers though because I'm not a big fan of them and I've added some dried oregano and basil to the oil and vinegar and am letting them sit in a little container overnight for a little extra oomph :)
ReplyDelete