Vegan Creamy Green Goddess (Printable Version)

A refreshing pasta salad with creamy green dressing, fresh peas, basil, and crisp vegetables for a light meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz short pasta such as fusilli, rotini, or shells
02 - Salt for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
04 - 1 small cucumber, diced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
06 - 1/2 cup radishes, thinly sliced
07 - 1/3 cup scallions, thinly sliced

→ Creamy Green Goddess Dressing

08 - 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
09 - 1/4 cup unsweetened plant-based yogurt
10 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, packed
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh tarragon or extra parsley
14 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1 small garlic clove
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
18 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

19 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, sliced
20 - 1 tablespoon toasted sunflower seeds, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a colander, rinse under cold running water, and set aside to cool completely.
02 - While pasta cooks, combine vegan mayonnaise, plant-based yogurt, basil, parsley, chives, tarragon, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic clove, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with peas, cucumber, spinach, radishes, and scallions.
04 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Taste the salad and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt, lemon juice, or fresh herbs.
06 - Transfer the salad to a serving platter or bowl. Top with sliced basil and toasted sunflower seeds if desired.
07 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for one to two hours to enhance flavor development.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes, making it perfect for when you need something impressive without the fuss.
  • The creamy dressing is so herb-forward and bright that you'll find yourself craving it on everything.
  • It actually tastes better the next day as the flavors meld, so meal prep becomes your best friend.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of rinsing the pasta under cold water—warm pasta will wilt the spinach and make the whole salad mushy if you're not careful.
  • If you're making this ahead, wait to add the cucumber until right before serving, as it releases water and can make the dressing watery.
  • The dressing gets thicker as it sits, so if you're chilling it, you might need to thin it with a splash of plant-based milk or extra lemon juice before serving.
03 -
  • Make the dressing a day ahead if you can—it actually tastes better as the flavors meld, and it saves you time when you're assembling everything.
  • If your plant-based mayo or yogurt brands tend to separate, warm them slightly before blending so they emulsify more smoothly into the dressing.
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