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EASY Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta Salad with Arugula and Tomato. This quick but impressive dish is perfect for summer picnics, barbecues or anytime you need a fast, healthy dinner! Recipe at wellplated.com | @wellplated

Creamy Arugula Pasta Salad with Goat Cheese and Tomato

5 from 5 votes
Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta Salad with Arugula and Tomato. A quick but impressive dish, perfect for summer barbecues or anytime you need a fast, healthy dinner!
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 12 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 medium or 6 side salads
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Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces whole-grain fusilli pasta or rotini pasta
  • 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled (about 2/3 cup)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more if needed
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice plus more if needed
  • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 to 6 ounces baby arugula 5 to 6 packed cups
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes sliced into thin rounds
  • 1/3 cup pitted and thinly sliced Kalamata olives optional

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to boil over high heat. Cook the pasta until al dente, according to package directions. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water. Drain the pasta and pour it into a large serving bowl.
  • Sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese over the pasta, then drizzle in the olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle the salt, red pepper flakes, and several twists of black pepper on top. Pour about 1/3 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water over the pasta and toss until the pasta is evenly coated.
  • Add the arugula, cherry tomatoes, and olives (if using) and toss to combine. If the pasta seems dry, add small splashes of cooking water and toss until it’s nice and creamy. Taste and adjust if necessary—add more olive oil for richness, lemon juice for extra zing, and salt and/or pepper for seasoning. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • This salad is best consumed soon after making, but it keeps well, chilled, for 2 to 3 days. I like to gently reheat my leftover salad for just a few seconds in the microwave, which loosens up the goat cheese again.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 6)Calories: 275kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 9mgSodium: 507mgFiber: 5gSugar: 4g

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