This refreshing Lemon, Basil, and Cucumber Pasta salad is full of bright, summertime flavors. It's made with bowtie pasta, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, onion, fresh mozzarella pearls, fresh basil, and a zesty homemade lemon dressing.
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It's officially "pick a few cucumbers every time you go outside" season again! I do a walk around the yard and garden just about every morning. I'll bring one of my baskets out with me so I can grab some veggies from the garden. Lately, I've been loading up on cucumbers. But even after a thorough check in the morning, I'm still finding multiple cucumbers to pick by afternoon. I even have another basket on our kitchen counter that's been filled with mostly cucumbers.
This year, we grew a smaller variety of cucumber so they are easier to use up (Picklebush). I've been tossing them into salads, making my favorite Panera Inspired Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich, and giving them away to friends and family. My husband was off last week, which was the perfect time to whip up a pasta salad. So I decided to make a cucumber pasta salad that included other goodies from the garden like cherry tomatoes and basil - also growing in abundance right now.
I chose to make this pasta salad with farfalle (or bow tie pasta). Not only is it a fun shape, but the shape and folds of the pasta allow it to grab onto the dressing and other flavors in the salad. I kept the ingredients simple, using what I have growing in the garden to add to the salad, plus fresh mozzarella pearls cause you've got to have some cheese! I also made a dressing with lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper and chopped garlic.
Lemon, Basil, and Cucumber Pasta Salad
If you're looking for a way to use up all of those garden cucumbers (plus, tomatoes and basil), this salad is great for hot summer days! It's a delicious lunch if you're craving something on the lighter side. It also makes a great summer side dish to serve alongside grilled chicken, salmon, or barbecue favorites like burgers.
To start this pasta salad, first we need to cook our pasta. Bring a pot of salted water to a rolling boil and add the pasta. Cook it until it's al dente, about 10 minutes. Then, drain it and rinse with cold water. Let it cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, cucumber, onion, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella pearls. Stir to combine.
In a small bowl or jar, add chopped garlic, vegetable oil (you could use olive oil, as well), the juice of 1 and a half lemons, the zest of 1 lemon, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix it well and pour it over the pasta salad.
Add the chopped fresh basil and stir to combine everything together. You want to really make sure the salad is good and coated with the dressing.
Spoon the pasta salad into a serving dish. Serve immediately or allow the pasta salad to chill in the fridge.
Lemon, Basil, and Cucumber Pasta Salad
Equipment
- 1 medium pot
- 1 medium mixing bowl
- 1 small bowl or jar
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 6-8 oz. farfalle bowtie pasta
- 1 large cucumber or 2 small cucumbers cut into half-moons
- 1/3 cup red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella pearls
- 1/4 cup fresh basil roughly chopped
For the dressing:
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil or olive oil
- Juice of 1 1/2 lemons
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook about 10 minutes, or until al dente.
- Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow pasta to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, cucumber, onion, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella pearls.
- In a small bowl or jar, add the garlic cloves, lemon juice and zest, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad. Add the fresh basil and stir to combine and coat. Adjust flavors, as needed.
- Serve immediately or chill in the fridge.
It's best to enjoy this pasta salad within 2 to 3 days of making it. The pasta will soak up the dressing over time and the cucumbers could become watery. If you want to make the salad ahead of time, store the pasta salad and dressing separately. If necessary, whip up some extra dressing just to refresh the pasta salad.
Did you make this Lemon, Basil, and Cucumber Pasta Salad recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
