Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe
This cool and refreshing Lemon Capellini Salad is a vibrant Italian-inspired cold pasta dish featuring delicate angel hair pasta tossed with fresh diced tomatoes, tangy capers, and a zesty lemon dressing. Perfect as a light, flavorful side, it pairs wonderfully with grilled meats or roasted chicken and can be enjoyed year-round, served immediately or chilled to intensify the lemony flavors.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)
- 2 medium lemons, juiced (plus 1 tsp lemon zest)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
- ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
- ½ cup diced tomatoes, seeds removed (roma or grape tomatoes work well)
- 3 tbsp capers, drained
- 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley, finely chopped (fresh)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add the capellini pasta, avoiding breaking the delicate strands. Cook for about 5 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cool water to stop the cooking process and keep the noodles tender and separate.
- Prepare Dressing: While the pasta cooks, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the juice of two lemons, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, garlic salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined, creating a bright and flavorful dressing.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooled pasta to the lemon dressing along with the diced tomatoes and drained capers. Gently toss everything to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the dressing and the ingredients are well distributed.
- Finish the Salad: Fold in the freshly chopped curly leaf parsley for a pop of color and fresh herbaceous flavor. Give the salad one last toss to blend all elements perfectly. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate to chill before serving.
Notes
- This pasta salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before serving leftovers, toss the salad again as the dressing may settle at the bottom.
- For best texture and presentation, avoid breaking the capellini noodles when cooking and handling.
- If capellini is unavailable, thin spaghetti can be used as an alternative.
- The salad tastes even better the next day as the pasta absorbs the lemon dressing flavors.
Keywords: Capers, Pasta Salad, Lemon Pasta Salad, Italian Pasta Salad, Capellini Salad
Find it online: https://famdishes.com/lemon-capellini-salad-recipe-2/
