Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe

Introduction

This Lemon Capellini Salad is a light and refreshing dish perfect for warm days or as a zesty side. Featuring delicate angel hair pasta tossed with bright lemon, ripe tomatoes, and briny capers, it’s quick to prepare and bursting with flavor.

Ingredients

• 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)
• 2 medium lemons (juice of + 1 tsp lemon zest)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed)
• 3 tbsp capers (drained)
• 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until tender. Since the pasta is thin, it will cook quickly. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process.
2. Step 2: While the pasta cooks, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk them together until well blended.
3. Step 3: Add the cooked pasta, diced tomatoes, and capers to the lemon dressing. Toss everything together gently to coat evenly.
4. Step 4: Stir in the finely chopped parsley and give the salad a final toss. Serve immediately or cover and chill in the fridge until ready to enjoy.

Tips & Variations

• For added crunch and color, try mixing in thinly sliced red onions or toasted pine nuts.
• Substitute fresh basil for parsley to give the salad a sweeter herbal note.
• Use gluten-free pasta if you want a gluten-free version.
• If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, add some lemon zest directly to the dressing along with the juice.

Storage

Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The flavors will meld nicely but the pasta may absorb some dressing and become softer. Serve chilled or at room temperature; avoid reheating to maintain texture.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this salad in advance?

Yes, you can prepare it a few hours ahead of time. Just keep it covered in the fridge and toss gently before serving to refresh the flavors.

Can I use another type of pasta?

Absolutely! Thin pastas like angel hair, vermicelli, or even small shapes like orzo work well for this light salad.

Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 627 reviews

This refreshing Lemon Capellini Salad is a light and flavorful pasta dish perfect for warm weather or as a bright side. Featuring delicate angel hair pasta tossed in a zesty lemon dressing with fresh tomatoes, capers, and parsley, it offers a perfect balance of tangy, savory, and herbal notes. Easy to prepare and ready in under 30 minutes, this salad is great served chilled or at room temperature.

• Author: Mia
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Total Time: 18 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Mediterranean
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Pasta

• 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)

Dressing & Mix-ins

• 2 medium lemons (juice of + 1 tsp lemon zest)
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed)
• 3 tbsp capers (drained)
• 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the capellini pasta. Cook until tender but still firm, which should take just a few minutes due to the thin strands. Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent it from becoming mushy.
2. Prepare Dressing: While the pasta cooks, combine the juice of 2 lemons, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk these ingredients together until fully emulsified and smooth.
3. Toss Salad: Add the drained pasta, ½ cup diced (seeded) tomatoes, and 3 tablespoons drained capers into the bowl with the lemon dressing. Toss well to evenly coat all the ingredients with the dressing. Then, gently fold in 1 tablespoon finely chopped curly leaf parsley and give the salad one last toss to distribute the herbs.
4. Serve or Chill: Serve the Lemon Capellini Salad immediately for the freshest flavor or cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 hours to serve chilled. This salad is best enjoyed within a few hours of preparation for optimal taste and texture.

Notes

• Removing tomato seeds helps reduce excess moisture and prevents the salad from becoming watery.
• Rinsing the pasta with cold water after cooking stops residual heat from overcooking the delicate noodles.
• You can substitute curly leaf parsley with flat-leaf parsley for a milder flavor.
• This salad can be prepared a few hours ahead but is best consumed the same day for freshness.
• Adjust garlic salt to taste or substitute with garlic powder and add salt separately to control saltiness.

Keywords: lemon capellini salad, angel hair pasta salad, lemon pasta salad, Mediterranean pasta dish, light pasta salad, summer pasta salad