This isn’t your grandma’s pasta salad. This pasta-less summer squash is a fresh vegan take on a summer classic.
The first day of summer is less than a week away and I can literally smell it in the air. Riding my bike to work last week, I was giddy with excitement as I sensed the familiar sounds and smells that mean it’s summer on Nantucket. Flowers are in full bloom, the roads are filled with cyclists and visitors, shops are open, my sunglass tan is in full effect and summer produce is getting juicer by the day.
Growing up on an island, based around summer tourism, has always meant that summer holds a very special place in my heart. I’m also a July baby so the end of July marks some of my favorite weeks of the year. Nothing makes me happier than climbing into bed at 2 am with sandy toes after a bonfire complete with s’mores, singing along to 90’s jams on the guitar and several wishes being made on shooting stars.
The last summer I spent on Nantucket was in 2012. At the time I had 2 jobs and worked almost 70 hours a week so I could pay for school. Needless to say that wasn’t the most enjoyable summer. Since then I’ve been in various cities where beaches were no longer a five minute bike ride away.
I forgot how much I cherished these crazy couple months until being back with beaches in reach and all my favorite summer “ingredients” nearby.
For me summer equals:
- S’mores
- Swimming in the ocean
- Iced coffees (but let’s be real that’s a year round thing)
- Late night star gazing
- Long bike rides
- Waiting in line for 40 minutes to get the best damn ice cream
- A little extra dose of shenanigans
- Runs through the woods
- Family barbecues
- Ma birthday
But I’d love to know what YOUR favorite ingredients to summer are! What instantly brings you back to this time of year? What are those special moments that only happen these couple months that make them so special? What tastes instantly remind you of July?
One of my favorite summer flavors has GOT to be basil. When I had the chance to partner with The FeedFeed and make a recipe with Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread I wanted to put an extra summery twist on a summer classic: the pasta salad.
Pasta salad truthfully was never something I had to have at the picnic, but this version made with fresh summer veggies, zucchini and summer squash noodles and basil Carefully Crafted dressing is a game. changer. Really. The creamy basil sauce perfectly harmonizes the crunchy peppers, sweet corn and spiralized squash.
Not only is this pasta-less pasta salad gluten-free it’s also vegan-friendly. It’s made with Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread so it’s free from eggs, cholesterol and made with non-GMO ingredients. I think you’re going to impress a lot of folks at your next summer gathering if you bring this salad. I mean, I impressed myself anyway.
[Tweet “Impress your friends with this vibrant delicious vegan pasta-less summer squash salad”]
- For the Salad:
- 2 Medium Zucchinis
- 1 Summer Squash
- 1 Cup of Cherry Tomatoes Sliced in Half
- 1 Red Pepper, Diced
- 1 Cup of Corn
- For the Sauce:
- 3/4 Cup of Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread
- 2 Tablespoon of Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1/2 Cup of Basil
- Spiralize zucchinis and summer squash and place in a large mixing bowl
- Mix with 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved, corn and diced red pepper
- In a food processor or magic bullet blend together Hellmann’s Carefully Crafted Dressing & Sandwich Spread, mustard, vinegar and basil until sauce is smooth
- Toss veggie salad with basil sauce and store in the fridge before serving
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days
- This blog post brought to you by Hellmann’s & The FeedFeed
This blog post brought to you by Hellmann’s & The FeedFeed all opinions expressed are my own.
Your Turn:
- What’s on your list of “summer ingredients”
This looks so good! To me, Summer means the beach, salty hair (that sounds disgusting but you know what I mean), rum and cokes, and watermelonnn.
Waiting in line for the best damn ice cream…ME TOO! 🙂 For me, summer means going to the drive-in with my Dad, amusement parks, concerts, and Food Truck Tuesdays (it’s a Buffalo thing). My summer ingredients are most definitely watermelon, zucchini, and avocados of course! A watermelon, feta, and arugula salad is where it’s at! 🙂 Or this pasta-less salad. OMG <3
Gorgeous photos, Georgie! Summer meals all the fruit (watermelon and berries) and zucchini! And meals on the grill. Non-food related, it means the beach, late nights outside and showers like three time a day from the heat haha
You impressed me with this! I think I would make this for my grandma too! She would love it, I think! 🙂 That creamy basil sauce? WOW! 🙂 And those summer activities are all SOME of my favorites. I love runs in the late evening, actually, because it’s so cool and dreamy and bright outside. 🙂 And S’mores? YES!!! When is your birthday Georgie? 🙂 Mine is in July too!
i don’t really care for traditional pasta salad but I know for sure that this veggie version is for me! My summer foods include watermelon, berries and grilled everything!
This looks so refreshing and I love love love that it’s gluten-free and vegan! To me, the smell of suntan lotion and the taste of fresh sweet corn (there’s nothing quite like Minnesota corn) are the first things that come to mind when I think of summer.
I’m also a late July baby, so summer definitely means my birthday to me too 🙂 And ice cream, and fireworks for the Fourth, and before that our town Memorial Day parade, and barbecuing out on the deck, and after dinner walks with my dog under the stars…
Summer is all about watermelon and tomatoes picked right from my parents garden! Oh and ma birthday too!
Oh well doesn’t this look fabulous! The perfect Summer Salad…My list of Summer ingredients always include lots of berries, peaches, nectarines, and lately I cannot get enough seafood. I want that protein, healthy fat, but also the refreshing and lighter taste that seafood has. XOXO
Georgie this is GORGEOUS!! Already planning on making it this weekend for our Father’s Day cookout 😉
My list of summer ingredients includes endless Halo Top, berries and Leinenkugal’s summer ale
I am all about that summer squash! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I LOVE that you used straight up veggies in here – no pasta needed! The zucchini and summer squash are so fresh right now and I want to eat them all day every day in everything. This looks amazingly refreshing & creamy! Also, can we throw a virtual birthday party for you?!??
This looks so good! I am totally making it this week!
Do you ever see a mixture of colors and think THAT’S what flavor looks like? My exact feelings looking at this summer squash salad. It’s almost too beautiful to eat. But I’d totally eat it without any reservation lol!
Summer= lightening bugs, roasted marshmallows, star gazing, peaches, picking strawberries, beach
I can affirm, this is a great salad!