If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you’ve likely seen the 'pasta chip' hype. And now, with summer on the horizon, this crispy pasta salad is all over the feed. So, is it worth it? Let’s check it together.
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Viral Crispy Pasta Salad
This salad is so easy and quick, it comes together in almost 25 minutes, making it a delicious and easy meal for busy weeknights. I took the viral trend and went full Mediterranean diet mode: tuna, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, and a zesty homemade vinaigrette.
It is very versatile and you can use any leftover protein you have on hand. The dressing is so delicious and pairs very well with the canned tuna. It is zesty, creamy, salty, and feels so fresh and good for you without having to add mayo.
Pro Tip
I like using small pasta for this recipe, something like small farfalle or detallini.
Crispy pasta salad (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Ingredients
- ½ lb 8oz dry pasta. I like using small size pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
For the salad:
- 2 cans tuna
- 1 English cucumber diced
- 1 red onion chopped
- ¼ cup kalamata olives sliced
- ½ iceberg lettuce
Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoons dry basil
- ½ teaspoon dry oregano
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium high heat. Add pasta and cook al dente according to package directions.
- Drain the pasta and toss with olive oil and parmesan cheese.
- Spread in your air fryer basket evenly and air fry on 375F for increments of 5 minutes tossing in between to redistribute.
Make the salad:
- Chop cucumber, onion, lettuce and place in a large salad bowl.
- Drain your tuna and add to the bowl then add the sliced olives.
- Mix salad dressing with an immersion blender or a small food processor until creamy, taste to adjust seasoning.
- Pour the dressing over the salad in the bowl and mix well to combine.
- Top with the pasta then mix everything well.
Notes
- Air fryers vary so if this is your first time making crispy pasta, stay close to your air fryer and watch carefully for when it is crispy enough without burning.
- You need to serve this pasta immediately to keep the crunch. If you are not then refrigerate the salad and keep the pasta in a separate container.
Nutrition
FAQs
No worries, after cooking the pasta, spread it on a baking sheet and bake in a 400F oven, tossing it a couple of times until done.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 24 hours. Just keep in mind that the pasta will soften and lose its crispiness.
Oh the possibilities are endless. First you can season the pasta with more herbs like oregano, italian, cajun as it all depends on the salad you are tossing it with. Skip the tuna and use leftover chicken or roast beef. You can make it without protein if you wish to. Change up the veggies, add crumbled feta, and use your favorite dressing like Tahini Dressing or Greek Yogurt Dressing.
Final Thought
Is the viral crispy pasta salad worth the hype? It depends on who you are. Although we loved the crispy pasta, three out of the five of us found the pasta too dry and would’ve appreciated it more if the pasta was cooked and added without drying it out. While the other two went crazy about it. The salad itself is delicious and the dressing was 5/5. Worth mentioning that when leftovers stayed in the fridge overnight, the pasta rehydrated and was less crunchy, so that is a thing to consider.
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