First, a disclaimer: I’m not usually one to jump on the Tiktok food-trending train. Personally, I find that most of the food trends driven by social media tend to not match the hype. The pasta? Pass. Bell pepper sandwich? That’s a no from me. Egg toast? Absolutely not. (Camille’s version That’s better off egg-free, IMO.) However, there’s been a trend over the last year that I fully accept. The green goddess salad. And with a few tweaks and hacks added, this green goddess pasta salad (vegan) was born.
After Baked by Melissa The salad went viral last year, I’ve heard it over and over again from friends swearing at the salad. I had to admit after trying it, it was really good. Good, I started playing with green god everything. And in my never ending quest eat vegetables Without finishing a giant bowl of salad, I turned to the pasta bin at the back of the pantry. And as it turns out, the green goddess’ outfit combined with the tender pasta is a heavenly combination. Enter: the best green goddess pasta salad (wait for it) is also vegan.
What is the dressed green goddess?
If you’re new to bright greens and fresh hues, goddess green is traditionally created with a base of cream, a heap of fresh herbs, and vinegar. I’ve had plenty of green goddess outfits over the years, and some are better than others. I edited my tahini recipe to be the green goddess version, making it completely vegan. I also love the blend of both lemon juice and apple cider vinegar because of the acidity in this version. While you can use one or the other, I find that lemon and ACV have different flavors on the acidity scale. Used together, the results are magical.
What herbs can I use?
The best part of a goddess green ensemble is using whatever soft herbs you have on hand. Think coriander, parsley, basil, chives, mint, and tarragon. Although each herb has a different flavor, the blend is always good. And for an extra dose of greens here, I took notes from Melissa’s version and added the spinach to the blender to really boost the greens here.
What vegetables can I use for my green macaroni salad?
Obviously, I have a thing for green on green combination when it comes to pasta. Visually, I keep all of my vegetables in the family green for this recipe. Peas, artichoke, cucumber, avocado and celery. You can use any vegetables you like, but especially with cold pasta salads, I like to think about how the flavors of all the vegetables are marinated together.
For this version, I like the crisp and fresh taste of cucumber and celery. The peas add a slight sweetness that balances things out. Artichokes have been seasoned to add a bit of sourness to the salad. And this pleasantly creamy avocado really brings it all together. Baby corn, radishes, edamame beans and any other fresh vegetables you have on hand will also be delicious!
Tips for making the best macaroni salad
I am also a huge fan of this pasta salad. It’s perfect for warmer days and is packed with freshness that still leaves you satisfied and hearty. So for this green magic pasta salad, here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years:
- The shape of your pasta is important. And do not use fresh noodles. Canning and drying is the way to go here. Shorter pastas will retain more of the sauce, which means more flavor in every bite. I used Farfalle for this version, but I also love the classic pasta and fusilli for the pasta salad.
- Add a portion of the sauce to your pasta while it is still warm. In the past, I either waited until the pasta had completely cooled down before dressing, or used up all my clothes while the pasta was still warm. I find that the halfway method allows the warm pasta to marinate and absorb the flavors of the sauce while it cools. Adding the remaining marinade at the end will complete your green fairy pasta salad with a dash of flavor.
- How you cook the noodles is what matters. Because pasta cooks as it cools, I like to work next to the last cook.
The pasta salad is the perfect blank canvas for your creativity in the kitchen! Use this recipe as a guide for the creamy vegan version and assemble as desired.
