Perfect Picnic Pasta Salad

Perfect Picnic Pasta Salad with Lemony Avocado Sesame Dressing – a fresh, flavorful mix of summer vegetables and curly pasta, taking a tumble in a bright avocado dressing.

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I have a Goose Lamp.

Two of them, actually. One is named Mayonnaise.

My friend Michelle named Mayonnaise years ago. An ironic name, as back then I really did not care for mayo in any form. Since going vegan, mayonnaise does not wig me out as it used to. It’s simply an oil-based condiment now – rather than something made with eggs – another thing I didn’t care to eat.

Mayonnaise. Even though the only kind of mayo I use is plant based, I still sometimes have that same feeling about it, that it’s a no-no for picnic in the sunshine foods. So in making something to contribute to a barbecue potluck on a hot day a couple weekends back, I opted for an avocado sauced pasta salad. So so good – fresh and flavorful.

This savory sauce is also Rosemary Dachshund approved.

perfect picnic pasta salad

YIELD: 4-6 servings

dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan

INGREDIENTS:

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and snapped into bite size pieces
drizzle olive oil
sea salt
8 ounces gluten free corkscrew pasta (rice)
1 batch Lemony Avocado Sesame Dressing (recipe follows)
1 cup corn (grilled, cut from the cob is perfect!)
1/4 – 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS:

Toss asparagus with olive oil. Arrange on baking sheet, sprinkle with sea salt. Roast in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.

Assemble salad: Transfer Lemony Avocado Sesame Dressing to large mixing bowl. Add cooled pasta, toss to combine. Add roasted asparagus, corn, and sun-dried tomatoes, combine. 

lemony avocado sesame dressing

YIELD: ~1 cup

dairy, egg, soy and gluten free, vegan

INGREDIENTS:

2 avocados
juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon tahini
sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

Peel and pit avocados, add to blender with lemon juice and tahini. Blend to smooth consistency, add salt to taste.

This is my Summer ’14 potluck contribution. Who is inviting me over?

…or you can come over here. The goose lamps are in the guest room.