A to Z Pasta Salad

Name: A to Z Pasta Salad
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Global
Ingredients: 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends removed and sliced into 1 1/2-inch pieces; 227 grams grape or cherry tomatoes, halved if large; 1 Tbsp cider vinegar; 227 grams extra-firm lite tofu (NOT silken); 2 Tbsps fresh herbs (I used basil, oregano, and parsley); 1 clove garlic, slightly crushed; 8 servings your favorite fat-free Italian salad dressing, to taste; 2 Tbsps light soy sauce or tamari; 1 serving optional: sliced black olives, added just before; 8 servings salt and fresh pepper, to taste; 454 grams penne or spiral pasta (use gluten-free rice pasta, if necessary); 1 Tbsp water; 1 yellow or red pepper, chopped; 2 mediums zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch slices

A to Z Pasta Salad might be a good recipe to expand your main course recipe box. One serving contains 348 calories, 13g of protein, and 10g of fat. This recipe serves 8. This recipe covers 18% of your daily requirements of vitamins and minerals. It is a good option if you're following a dairy free diet. If you have optional: olives, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, and a few other ingredients on hand, you can make it. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes approximately 1 hour.

Instructions

Cut the tofu into 1/2-inch slices, and press each one gently between paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Ingredients you will need

Tofu

Equipment you will use

Paper Towels

Cut each slice into half-inch cubes.

Mix up a marinade of the soy sauce, cider vinegar, water, and garlic.

Ingredients you will need

Apple Cider Vinegar

Soy Sauce

Marinade

Garlic

Water

Put the tofu into a bowl or zip-lock plastic bag and pour the marinade over it. Allow it to marinate for at least an hour, up to overnight, turning or stirring the tofu once in a while to make sure it all gets covered. Preheat oven to 375 F.

Ingredients you will need

Marinade

Tofu

Equipment you will use

Ziploc Bags

Bowl

Oven

Remove the tofu from the marinade (discarding the marinade and garlic) and place it on an oiled or parchment-covered baking sheet.

Ingredients you will need

Marinade

Garlic

Tofu

Equipment you will use

Baking Sheet

Bake for 10 minutes, and then turn and bake for 10 more. Edges should be just beginning to brown.

Equipment you will use

Oven

Place the tofu cubes in a large serving bowl and toss with a little Italian dressing. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. (

Ingredients you will need

Italian Dressing

Water

Tofu

Equipment you will use

Bowl

Pot

Add a small amount of salt, if you want.) Once it boils, drop the asparagus and zucchini pieces into it and blanch for exactly 1 1/2 minutes.

Ingredients you will need

Asparagus

Zucchini

Salt

Remove them with a slotted spoon into a bowl filled with cold water. Once they have cooled, add them to the tofu. Use the same pot of boiling water to cook the pasta according to package directions. Once it reaches the al dente stage, drain it in a colander and rinse it with cold water. (Be careful not to overcook; you want it to still have some “bite” to it so that it won’t fall apart in the salad.)

Ingredients you will need

Pasta