Refreshing And Nutritious 25-Minute Asparagus & Salmon Pasta Salad

Make your salad interesting with a combination of asparagus, salmon, and shell pasta. This nutrient-dense meal has a good amount of greens, carbs and protein to get you through the day. It's also incredibly tasty and easy to prepare!

Yield: Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Difficulty Level: 2/5

Ingredients

• 375 g shell pasta
• 400 g asparagus, trimmed
• 415 g can red salmon, drained, flaked
• 100 g watercress, trimmed
• 1 small piece white onion (80 g), sliced thinly
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsps wholegrain mustard
• 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
• 2 tbsps lemon juice
• ¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil

Steps

01. Cook pasta in large saucepan of boiling water, uncovered, until just tender; drain. Rinse under cold water; drain.

02. Meanwhile, cut asparagus into 5 cm lengths. Boil, steam or microwave asparagus until just tender; drain. Rinse under cold water; drain.

03. Combine pasta and asparagus in large bowl with salmon, watercress and onion. Place remaining ingredients in screw-top jar; shake well.

04. Drizzle dressing over pasta; toss gently to combine.

TIP

Shell pasta, or conchiglie, is available in 3 sizes. In addition to the medium shell we used here, there is a smaller shell called conchigliette, which makes a great addition to soups, and a larger shell, called conchiglioni, which is usually served stuffed and baked.

Photo: bauersyndication.com.au