Avocado and Whole Wheat Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 (12 ounce) box whole wheat rotini pasta
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons white vinegar
• lemon, juiced
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 large carrot, cut into matchstick-size pieces
• 6 green onions, sliced
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• salt and ground black pepper to taste

Step 1

Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the rotini and cook it until it’s tender but still has a little bite—about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop it from sticking together.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooling, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and honey until you have a smooth dressing.

Step 3

In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the diced avocados, chopped green bell pepper, shredded carrot, sliced green onions, celery, minced garlic, and all the fresh herbs—basil, parsley, and cilantro.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss to coat all the ingredients. Finish with some lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 5

This salad is best served at room temperature, so let it sit out for a little while before digging in.