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Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 74 reviews

This refreshing Lemon Capellini Salad combines delicate angel hair pasta with a zesty lemon dressing, juicy tomatoes, briny capers, and fresh parsley. Perfect for a light lunch or a summery side dish, this salad is easy to make, bursting with vibrant flavors, and can be served immediately or chilled for later enjoyment.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)

Dressing

  • 2 medium lemons (juice of + 1 tsp lemon zest)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Salad Add-ins

  • ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed)
  • 3 tbsp capers (drained)
  • 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the capellini pasta and cook until tender but still firm, about 3-4 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
  2. Prepare the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the juice of 2 lemons, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic salt, and black pepper until emulsified and smooth.
  3. Combine ingredients: Add the cooled pasta to the lemon dressing. Then add the diced, seed-removed tomatoes and drained capers. Toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients with the dressing.
  4. Add fresh parsley: Stir in the finely chopped curly leaf parsley and give the salad one final gentle toss to distribute the herbs.
  5. Serve or chill: Serve the Lemon Capellini Salad immediately at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours to chill and let the flavors meld before serving.

Notes

  • Be sure to rinse the pasta under cold water after cooking to avoid overcooking and clumping.
  • Remove tomato seeds to prevent excess moisture in the salad.
  • Use freshly squeezed lemon juice and zest for the best bright flavor.
  • This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and refrigerated for convenience.
  • For a vegan version, ensure the garlic salt does not contain any animal derivatives.

Keywords: lemon pasta salad, capellini salad, angel hair pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, lemon dressing, light pasta salad

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/lemon-capellini-salad-recipe/