Vegetarian Taco Pasta Salad With Avocado Hemp Hearts Dressing
Creamy vegetarian taco pasta salad with healthy avocado hemp hearts dressing! A quick and easy meal is perfect for lunch, dinner, parties, and potlucks.
Cook the pasta of your choice according to the package instructions. I cooked my two cups of dried pasta in 6 cups of boiling water with 1 tsp salt for 8 minutes. Make sure to cook the pasta aldente. Reserve ⅓ cup of pasta cooking water and drain the remaining water.
Spread the pasta on a plate, add ½ tbsp of oil, and mix well. Add oil and spreading in a plate helps prevent pasta from clumping.
Prepare the dressing
In a blender, add the sliced avocado (reserve some for the salad, too. I used one and a half avocados for the dressing), lemon juice, hemp hearts, taco seasoning, and cilantro.
Blend it smoothly by adding ⅓ cup of the reserved pasta water.
Assemble the salad
Add the cooked pasta, chopped onion, bell peppers, tomato, cilantro, kidney beans, corn, olive oil, and remaining salt to a mixing bowl.
Add the prepared dressing too.
Mix well. Check for the seasoning and adjust accordingly. Serve it with a slice of lemon and sliced avocados.
Notes
I did not add any jalapenos. Add a tsp of finely chopped deseeded jalapenos or ½ of dark chili powder for a spicy version.
We need two medium-sized avocados for this recipe. Depending upon the size, adjust the number of avocados. But you won't need more than two avocados for this measure.
I kept this taco pasta salad vegan and did not add any sour cream or cheese. You can add both for a much creamier version.
Adjust the measure of vegetables as per your preference. You can also include red and green bell peppers.
Make sure to cook the pasta aldente.
If you feel the pasta is dry, add one more tbsp of oil but not more.