Dilly Summer Squash and Lentil Pasta Salad (Pasta Package Giveaway)

We are a pasta family.

We love pasta...in all shapes and forms.

My kids favorite...bow tie!

My hubby's favorite...spaghetti!

My favorite...any!

What is a constant is that we use whole wheat pasta rich in whole grain

Good quality, tasty whole wheat pasta like Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pasta 

can truly bring out the best in your pasta dish. I was excited to receive a selection of Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pastas to create a new recipe for their Summer Pastabilities  contest. (Um, yeah...I just might have won the Have a Grain Holiday Contest!)

I am also prefer vegetarian meals and love to create side dishes or main dishes that can satisfy meat-lovers and vegetarians alike!

I created the Dilly Summer Squash and Lentil Pasta Salad to be served in smaller portions as a side dish but also it is hearty enough (thanks to the lentils) to serve as a main dish! It is full of fresh summer flavors and has already been a hit at a few of my summer parties!

Dilly Summer Squash and Lentil Pasta Salad
INGREDIENTS
Makes 10 cups

I package Hodgson Mill Bow Tie Whole Wheat Pasta (10 oz, dry), cooked
1 Medium yellow summer squash, grated (yields about 1 cup)
1 Medium zucchini, grated (yield about 1 cup)
1/2 red onion, coarsely chopped (yields about 1 cup)
1 red pepper, coarsely chopped (yields about 1 cup)
1/2 cup dry lentils (some stores carry precooked lentils) (Yields about 1 cup cooked)
3/4 oz. fresh dill (about 8 stems)
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
2 lemons, juiced
3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

COOK IT

• Prepare pasta according to package directions: Bring 4 qts. of water to a boil. Salt to taste. Add pasta to boiling water; stir vigorously until water boils again. Cook for 7-9 minutes or until desired tenderness. Drain.

• Prepare lentils: At least 8 hours prior (or overnight), soak 1/2 cup DRY lentils in 2 cups water. Drain water. Using a steamer basket, fill large pot with a couple inches of water. Place steamer basket in the pot, add the lentils to the basket, cover and steam for approximately 20 minutes. Taste the lentils at this point to see if they are the desired tenderness for you. Once cooked, let cool.

• Prepare dressing: Place 1/3 cup olive oil the juice of 2 lemons, 3 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 tsp ground black pepper and 1 tsp salt in a jar or container and mix together.

Make the Salad

• Let pasta and lentils cool.
• Using a basic cheese grater (mine has large holes on one side and small on the other. I used the larger holes) grate the yellow squash and the zucchini. Add to the bowl.

• Slice the red onion in half. Save one half and and coarsely chop the other half. Add to bowl.
• Coarsely chop the red pepper. Add to bowl.
• Wash and pat dry the dill. Chop the dill leaves (trying to avoid using the stem). Set aside.

• The large bowl should have the 2 varieties of squash, red onion, and red pepper. Once the lentils are cool add them to the vegetable mixture. Once the past is cool add it to the bowl.
• Pour dressing over the salad and gently mix to thoroughly coat the salad (you can adjust the amount of dressing, by adding a little at a time).
• Add 1 cup of crumbled feta cheese and toss.
• Add the chopped dill, mix to combine.

This might seem like a lot of ingredients...but it is really easy to prepare and all of the ingredients are easily available in most markets. And it tastes so good...you will want to make this again and again!

For more inspiring and tasty ideas, follow:

Hodgson Mill on Pinterest 

Hodgson Mill on Facebook 

Hodgson Mill on Twitter

Have you tried Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pasta?

Here is your chance to grab some Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pasta and take $1 off any variety of Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat pasta! http://bit.ly/PASTA2013

or

ENTER to win a $25 Hodgson Mill Pasta Prize Package right now! 

(giveaway open to U.S. residents/mailing addresses)

Giveaway runs from 8/6/13 through 8/14/13 at midnight PST

How to Enter:

Mandatory:

Leave a comment telling me which Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Pasta you want to try.

Secondary/Optional:

Follow Hodgson Mill on Pinterest

(leave a comment with your pinterest URL)

That is it - super simple!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre   disclosure: Hodgson Mill sent me a selection of pastas to create a Summer Pastabilities recipe for their contest. All opinions and recipes are my own creation.