Dill & Veggie Garden Pasta Salad - Beauty Garden Journal

Spring is in the air! What better way to celebrate the change in seasons than through food? I was inspired to create this dish after attending an interior design event a couple weeks ago, the food there was catered and delicous. The pasta dish I had at the event was made of orzo pasta, dill weed and shrimp. It was missing the abundance of fresh veggies. But I enjoyed the pasta so much I decided to make my own version of it, eliminated the shrimp, changed the orzo to a gluten free alternative pasta. I also added in crispy, refreshing cucumbers and sweet red onion and bell peppers. Its balanced off with a healthy and light lemon and olive oil dressing, and zesty feta cheese. Its one refreshing pasta salad that will be the hit at your next spring soiree or as side dish for your family meal. I even think this would be a great Summer dish as well. Have a great weekend and bon appetit!

Ingredients:

4 C Gluten Free Pasta (I used a pasta made from quinoa & brown rice)

3 Persian Cucumbers

2 Bell Peppers ( I used red and orange bell pepper, yellow is good too!)

1/4 of a medium Red Onion

4 Stalks Fresh Dill Weed

1/2 C Crumbled Feta Cheese

2 Lemons (Juice)

1/4 C Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring about 8-10 cups of water to a boil and cook the gluten free pasta noodles. It should take approximately 10 minutes until the noodles are al dente! In the meantime chop the persian cucumber, red onion, fresh dill weed, and de-seed the bell peppers and chop as well. Set them aside. Once you have drained the pasta in a colander, throw the pasta and veggie mix together in a mixing bowl. Toss together well. Next, using a strainer, squeeze the juice out of two good sized lemons over the pasta mix. Add the olive oil and mix everything thouroghly. This will allow the juice and olive oil to deliciously and lightly saturate all ingredients with their flavor. Add salt and pepper to taste. The last ingredient to add is the feta cheese. Make sure the mixture has cooled well before tossing in the feta. Chill the pasta for an even more refreshing dish! Enjoy chilled or at room temperature! Its delicious either way! Enjoy!