I love picnics and I love pasta salad. Marriage made in heaven, right? So, we were planning a trip to the park with the neighbors a few months back (I think it was right at the beginning of Summer) and I threw together what I now believe to be the perfect Picnic Pasta Salad for our family and have been making it this way ever since! It’s so simple. The best part is the shaved carrots. The kids love them this way! I just use our vegetable peeler to shave off slices of carrot and toss them into the boiling pasta water along with the broccoli about 5 minutes before the buzzer rings. Yum!
And the dressing! Wowza. A bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil highlighted by cumin and fresh herbs (basil, cilantro and chives). Delicious.
Ingredients
Instructions
Boil noodles. With about 5 minutes remaining, add carrots and broccoli.
Once noodles and veggies are done, mix with remaining ingredients, to taste.
Freezing Instructions:
Boil noodles and veggies about 3 minutes less than you would otherwise. Divide among quart freezer bags and freeze. To serve. Thaw.
http://veggieconverter.com/2012/08/picnic-pasta-salad-vegan-wholefood.html
The Results
Love it and have made it several times since! Delicious and simple. Make it your own with whatever veggies you like!
This post is shared with Real Food Wednesday, Whole Food Wednesdays, What’s Cooking Wednesday, Works for me Wednesday, These Chicks Cooked and Bake with Bizzy, Hearth and Soul Hop.
Kristi is a former newspaper reporter and editor who is now a vegetarian mom, married to a meat-eating dad and parenting two undecided kids. Join the family on our journey creating whole foods recipes to suit our blended-eater lifestyle. 
Mmmm. I know what I'm bringing on my next picnic.
You won't be sorry! It is so good.
I love the dressing you have used in this, with all the lovely fresh herbs and the delicious spicy warmth of the cumin. I like your idea of shaving the carrots as well – this is a gorgeous pasta salad!
Mmm…I know right? The cumin choice was inspired, if I do say so myself. haha
It is really fantastic. Mainly I chose it because my neighbor can't have salt, so I couldn't do the "usual" s&p. Turned out fantastic!
Delicious colorful pasta salad Kristi. I love it. Thanks for sharing with Hearth Soul blog hop. I am highlighting this recipe on this weeks Hearth and Soul blog hop.
Thanks Swathi!