A healthy and easy pasta salad with the creamiest ranch dressing! Guess the secret ingredient?

Most of us know this and live by it – the dressing makes or breaks any salad. Crunchy vegetables on its own is great (kind of) but those days when you are craving a filling, wholesome & satisfying salad? The dressing plays a huge huge part in elevating the dish.

This is a Vegan Pasta Salad with simple ingredients and an ultra creamy and tangy sauce. The secret ingredient – not cashews, nuts or any milk – is soft, silken tofu.

As someone who prefers carbs, salads often don’t fill me or keep me satisfied. But this pasta salad really hit different. Thanks to the creamy dressing infused with acidic components, herbs and seasoning. It’s also ridiculously easy to make. It’s the preparation of ingredients that takes some time but the dish in itself is so versatile because you can use almost anything on hand!

This pasta salad can also be made gluten free – simply use a gluten free pasta such as brown rice fusilli or lentil pastas for that extra boost of protein. The dressing is 100% gluten free!

Print Recipe

Vegan Pasta Salad with Ranch Dressing

The creamiest healthy pasta salad – you'll never guess it's vegan!

Prep Time25

Cook Time5

Total Time30

Course: Main Course, Salad

Cuisine: American, Fusion

Keyword: healthy, pasta salad

Equipment

Salad Bowl

Ingredients

Creamy Ranch Dressing

150 g silken tofu
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 tsp dried dill
salt

Pasta Salad

1 cup dry fusilli
1/2 cup chopped cucumbers
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1/2 cup chopped artichokes
1/2 cup fried tofu

Instructions

Cook the pasta al dente according to package ingredients.
Blend all ingredients to make a creamy sauce.
Assemble salad ingredients and pour the dressing over the ingredients. Give it a good mix and serve.
You can store the pasta salad for 2-3 days.

Notes

Gluten free version: Simply use a gluten free pasta such as brown rice fusilli or lentil pastas for that extra boost of protein. The dressing is 100% gluten free!
You can substitute white vinegar for rice wine vinegar or mirin.
This pasta salad tastes best once the dressing is poured over the ingredients. You can store the ingredients, pasta and dressing separately if you are planning to consume it another day.