Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad is a light and refreshing salad perfect for summer. It won’t weigh you down when sitting in the hot sun all day, and it’s just enough to brighten your day.
It has a light lemon dressing with a hint of mint, wide egg noodles, tomatoes, onions, olives, red bell pepper strips, and basil leaves for an additional burst of flavor.
This recipe is easy to make but can easily be adapted to suit your tastes or dietary restrictions.
How to make Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 cup extra-wide egg noodles, cooked al dente, rinsed in cold water, and drained
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, drain and slice
- ½ cup diced red onion
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (I used kalamata)
- 1 Tbsp dried basil leaves (or ½ Tbsp fresh)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180ºC).
2. Place the egg noodles in a large bowl and drizzle with 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Toss the noodles until they are well coated in oil. Set aside.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a couple of teaspoons of olive oil and the diced onions, sauté for 8 minutes, or until onions are translucent and soft. Stir occasionally and do not burn the onions or become bitter later on during baking.
4. Add the tomatoes and diced red bell pepper strips and sauté for 5 minutes until the tomatoes brown.
5. Add the basil leaves, black olives, and salt. Stir in, and then add the drained sliced black olives.
6. Place the egg noodles on the vegetables and cover them with a lid. Cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until hot and bubbling around the edges.
7. Serve the warm salad topped with lemon dressing.
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Nutrition facts of Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 108.8 |
| Total Fat | 3.1g |
| Cholesterol | 1.3mg |
| Total Carbs | 13.6g |
| Protein | 2.2g |
The history of Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad
My friend and healthy living blogger Stephanie Lenz loaned me this recipe several years ago after being published on her blog back in 2009.
I loved the salad and made it over a dozen times. I have since lost the recipe but proudly pass my copy along to others who have yet to find it on their own.
The 9 healthy benefits of Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad
1. It is made with whole-wheat egg noodles to provide natural Folate, Iron, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B12
2. Large tomato chunks rather than diced tomatoes
3. Black olives contain high levels of iron, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids
4. The basil leaves add a fresh flavor to the salad. Basil is also a natural source of iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C to boost your immunity and reduce inflammation in your body.
5. The red bell pepper strips are an excellent source of vitamin A and contain vitamin C.
6. The lemon dressing helps keep you cool in the hot summer sun.
7. This salad is light and refreshing, so it won’t weigh you down when sitting in the hot sun all day!
8. It can easily be adapted to suit your tastes or dietary restrictions (omit olives, add another vegetable).
9. This is a great recipe to serve at a summer picnic or potluck with friends and family.
Can I Freeze It?
This salad should be eaten immediately after baking since the vegetables will not be cooked again. I would recommend making this salad a day before and storing it in the fridge to bring along to a picnic or potluck.
You can also separate the egg noodles from the vegetables and lemon dressing and store them separately in different containers for another day.
Is Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad are healthy?
The noodles are whole wheat so that they can be digested slowly and more efficiently. The giant tomato chunks are healthier than diced tomatoes because it takes more time for the body to break down the tomatoes.
It is also a good source of folate, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and omega 3 fatty acids. It is also low in calories and full of antioxidants.
Conclusion
Now you can enjoy Jason’s Deli Italian Pasta Salad without leaving the comfort of your own home. This salad is perfect for a picnic or potluck because it is easy to make and easily adapted to suit your tastes.
It is fresh, light, and packed with nutrients! Have you ever tried this recipe before? If not, give it a try and let me know what you think.
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