Vegan Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad

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Vegan Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad

Heads up: this page includes affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products or equipment I have personally vetted.

Who said being vegan had to be boring? This delicious, tri-color rotini pasta salad is proof that you can have all the flavor of your favorite Italian dish without any of the meat. With sweet peppers, frozen peas, vegan sausage, and olives, this salad is bursting with flavor – and it’s easy to make too!

Servings: 12
Calories/serving: 395

Carbs: 39g
Fiber: 6g

Fat: 6g
Protein: 16g

Ingredients

1 box (12 oz ea.), Tri-color Rotini

1/2 purple onion, chopped

~20 red, yellow, and orange mini sweet peppers (1 medium bag)

1 can sliced black olives

1 package frozen peas, uncooked

3/4 bottle Newman’s Own Lite Italian Salad Dressing

4 Tofurkey Italian Vegan Sausages

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook just until al dente.

Dice 1/2 a purple onion and toss into a large bowl.

Chop your tri-color mini sweet peppers into ringlets and add to your bowl, along with one can of black olives.

Strain the pasta when it is ready and add to your bowl, along with one package of frozen peas and Newman’s Own Lite Italian Salad Dressing.

Stir to mix all of your ingredients together.

Prepare Tofurky Italian Sausages according to directions on the package and add to individual bowls before serving.

Tri-Color Rotini Pasta Salad Tips

The amounts for the tri-color mini sweet peppers are a rough estimate. How much I actually use often depends on what I find at the store. I may find small or medium peppers, or the size of the bag can vary depending on where I shop. Start with a good amount and add more as necessary after you add the pasta to your bowl. I find, however, that you can never have too many sweet peppers 

The amount of dressing I use can also vary. Sometimes I end up using the entire bottle, other times I’m closer to the 3/4 mark. Again, go by personal taste.

Be sure to choose Newman’s LITE Italian dressing to keep the recipe vegan. The non-lite version is not vegan. If you cannot find this brand, look for an Italian dressing that is vegan.

The Tofurky Italian Sausages are optional. I love them! My youngest son does as well, but not my oldest. I have this out often if I’m entertaining, and I simply leave the sausages in a bowl next to the pasta. People can add if they like.

Enjoy!

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AUTHOR
Matt Walter, CHN, M.A.T
I studied Food Science and Human Nutrition at Washington State University and interned as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the WSU football team. I am a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and former personal trainer and competitive CrossFit athlete. My mission is to make embracing and adopting a healthy vegan lifestyle simple and fun!

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