Can I make this lime cilantro pasta salad ahead of time?

Yes and I actually recommend it! This pasta salad gets even better the longer it sits in the refrigerator as the pasta absorbs the vibrant lime cilantro dressing and all the flavors meld together beautifully. Make it the day before your gathering and store it covered in the refrigerator overnight for the best possible flavor. Just wait to add the avocado chunks until right before serving to keep them fresh and prevent them from browning. Give the salad a good stir before serving and add a drizzle of olive oil and lime juice if it needs a little refreshing.

Can I use a different pasta shape for this recipe?

Yes! While gluten free fusilli works beautifully because the spiral shape holds onto the lime cilantro dressing so well you can substitute any short gluten free pasta shape you have on hand. Gluten free rotini, penne, bowties, or shells all work well in this recipe. Avoid long pasta shapes like spaghetti or fettuccine as they do not hold the dressing as well and are harder to mix and serve evenly in a cold pasta salad.

Can I leave out the cilantro if I do not like it?

Absolutely! Cilantro is a polarizing herb and many people either love it or strongly dislike it. If you are not a cilantro fan you can simply leave it out and replace it with fresh flat leaf parsley for a similar fresh herb flavor without the distinctive cilantro taste. The dressing will still be bright and flavorful from the fresh lime juice, olive oil, cumin, and garlic powder. You can also reduce the amount of cilantro rather than leaving it out entirely if you want just a hint of the herb without it being the dominant flavor.

How do I keep the avocado from turning brown in this pasta salad?

The best way to keep the avocado fresh and vibrant is to add it right before serving rather than mixing it in when you first assemble the salad. The lime juice in the dressing does help slow the browning process but avocado will still begin to turn brown after several hours in a dressed salad.

Can I add protein to this pasta salad to make it a main dish?

Absolutely! This lime cilantro pasta salad is wonderful as a vegetarian side dish but is also delicious with added protein for a more substantial main course. Grilled or rotisserie chicken sliced or shredded over the top is a classic and delicious addition. Black beans or chickpeas are a great plant based protein option that would work beautifully with the Mexican inspired flavors in this salad. Grilled shrimp is another wonderful option that pairs perfectly with the bright lime and cilantro dressing.

Can I add other vegetables to this pasta salad?

Absolutely! This recipe is very easy to customize with whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand or whatever looks good at the farmers market. Sweet corn cut fresh from the cob, black beans, diced jalapeño for a little heat and diced mango are all wonderful additions that would complement the lime cilantro dressing beautifully. Feel free to mix and match your favorite summer vegetables to make this pasta salad your own.

Gluten Free Lime Cilantro Pasta Salad

Name: Gluten Free Lime Cilantro Pasta Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 ounce box Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Fusilli; 1/2 cup Lime Juice; 1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro Leaves; 1/2 cup Olive Oil; 3 tsp Granulated Sugar; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 1 tsp Salt; 1/2 tsp Ground Cumin; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 1 pint Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved; 1 small Red Onion, finely diced; 1 cup Cucumber peeled, seeded and chopped; 2 Avocados seeded, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks; 1 Red Bell Pepper seed and chopped; 1 Yellow Bell Pepper seeded and chopped

Description

This easy gluten free lime cilantro pasta salad is packed with fresh vegetables and tossed in a vibrant homemade lime cilantro dressing made with fresh lime juice, cilantro, olive oil, and cumin! Gluten free fusilli pasta, juicy grape tomatoes, crisp cucumber, colorful bell peppers, red onion, and creamy avocado chunks come together in just 30 minutes for the most refreshing and crowd pleasing gluten free summer pasta salad!

Ingredients

Scale

16 ounce box Jovial Gluten Free Brown Rice Fusilli
1/2 cup Lime Juice
1/2 cup Fresh Cilantro Leaves
1/2 cup Olive Oil
3 tsp Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp Black Pepper
1 pint Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1 small Red Onion, finely diced
1 cup Cucumber peeled, seeded and chopped
2 Avocados seeded, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1 Red Bell Pepper seed and chopped
1 Yellow Bell Pepper seeded and chopped

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Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the gluten free fusilli pasta per the instructions on the box. Drain the cooked pasta and rinse thoroughly in cold water until completely cooled. Pour the drained and rinsed pasta into a large mixing bowl.

While the pasta is cooking make the lime cilantro dressing. Add the lime juice, fresh cilantro leaves, olive oil, sugar, garlic powder, salt, ground cumin, and black pepper to a blender or food processor. Blend until the dressing is smooth and the cilantro is very finely chopped and evenly incorporated throughout the dressing.

Pour the lime cilantro dressing over the cooled pasta in your mixing bowl and stir to coat the pasta evenly.

Add the halved grape tomatoes, finely diced red onion, chopped cucumber, red bell pepper chunks, and yellow bell pepper chunks to the mixing bowl. Stir all of the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.

Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. For the best possible flavor make this salad the day before and refrigerate overnight. The pasta will absorb the lime cilantro dressing and the flavors will meld together beautifully overnight making this salad even more delicious on day two.

Right before serving add the fresh avocado chunks and gently fold them into the salad.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Side Dish, Salads
Method: Chopped
Cuisine: American