Description
This refreshing Lemon Capellini Salad is a light and zesty pasta dish perfect for warm days or as a bright side to any meal. Featuring delicate capellini pasta tossed with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, garlic salt, diced tomatoes, capers, and fresh parsley, this salad is easy to prepare and bursting with citrus flavor. It’s a quick and satisfying recipe that pairs well with grilled dishes or can be enjoyed on its own.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)
- 2 medium lemons (juice of plus 1 tsp lemon zest)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed)
- 3 tbsp capers (drained)
- 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the capellini pasta. Cook until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, which should take just a few minutes due to the thin nature of the pasta. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dressing: In a large bowl, combine the juice of the two lemons, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic salt, and black pepper. Whisk thoroughly to create a zesty, flavorful dressing.
- Toss Ingredients: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing and toss gently to coat evenly. Then fold in the diced tomatoes and drained capers, stirring carefully to combine all flavors without breaking the pasta.
- Add Herbs and Serve: Finally, stir in the finely chopped curly leaf parsley for a fresh, vibrant finish. Give the salad one last gentle toss. Serve immediately for the freshest taste, or cover and refrigerate to chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Be sure to remove tomato seeds to keep the salad from becoming watery.
- Rinsing pasta after cooking stops it from overcooking and helps keep it separated.
- Capers add a salty, briny flavor—rinse them if a milder taste is preferred.
- This salad can be served immediately or chilled for up to 24 hours; tossing again before serving will refresh the flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: lemon capellini salad, angel hair pasta salad, lemon pasta salad, Mediterranean pasta salad, easy pasta salad, summer salad
