I hope you enjoyed the first weekend of summer. We sure did with a trip to the beach, but more on that in my next post. Since summer is the season of picnics, backyard BBQs, and fun in the sun, I couldn’t wait to share with you my latest picnic-inspired recipe.
Most summer spreads include a pasta salad, and all too often heavy and laden with fat. I reinvented the traditional and lightened it up a bit by adding lots of veggies, grilled chicken, and a zesty buttermilk dressing. With the contrast of the dried tart cherries, savory chicken, and herb-alicious dressing, you’re in for a treat!
This pasta makes a yummy lunchbox meal too. I made a big batch of this yesterday and packed it in airtight containers for us to eat this week.
What is your favorite summer side?
Chicken Pasta Salad with Herbed Buttermilk Dressing
serves 4-6
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces brown rice pasta curls, cooked
16 ounces chicken tenders, grilled and chopped
1 cup dried tart cherries
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1 cup peas
2 cups packed spinach, shredded
1/2 cup feta cheese
for dressing
2 large (or 4 small) cloves garlic
4 springs fresh thyme, de-stemmed
5 leaves fresh sage
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper
DIRECTIONS
In large bowl, gently toss pasta, chicken, cherries, carrots, peas, spinach and feta together until combined.
In food processor or blender, process garlic until minced. Add thyme and sage to garlic and process until chopped. Slowly add buttermilk and vinegar to mixture and process to combine, dressing will be thin. Season with salt and pepper.
Pour dressing over pasta salad and gently toss to coat ingredients. Serve cold.
Hi I’m Kristina LaRue, RD (registered dietitian nutritionist), Peloton addict and mama to two active and hungry boys. On Love & Zest, you’ll find healthy-ish recipes that fuel the whole family. I’m all about veggie-filled breakfast, meal prep recipes, healthier sweets, and easy weeknight dinners made in the Instant Pot or sheet pan.
Did you make one of my recipes?? Leave a review in the comments and tag @loveandzest #loveandzest on Instagram!
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[…] you’ve been around this blog long enough, you know about my love affair with dried tart cherries, long before I began working with the Cherry Marketing Institute. If you’re new here, consider […]