Print

Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 51 reviews

This Lemon Capellini Salad is a cool, refreshing Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring delicate capellini noodles tossed in a bright lemon dressing with fresh diced tomatoes, briny capers, and aromatic parsley. Perfect as a side for grilled meats or as a light meal on its own, it’s quick to prepare and delicious served chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)
  • ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed, roma or grape tomatoes recommended)
  • 3 tbsp capers (drained)
  • 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Dressing

  • Juice of 2 medium lemons (about ¼ cup)
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add the capellini pasta, taking care not to break the delicate strands. Cook for about 5 minutes until al dente. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
  2. Prepare the dressing: While the pasta cooks, whisk together the juice of two lemons, lemon zest, olive oil, garlic salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a large mixing bowl until fully combined.
  3. Combine ingredients: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing. Add the diced tomatoes and drained capers. Toss everything together gently to ensure the dressing coats all ingredients.
  4. Finish and serve: Fold in the finely chopped parsley for fresh color and flavor. Give the salad one last gentle toss to distribute ingredients evenly. Serve immediately or cover and chill in the refrigerator. Toss again before serving if chilled.

Notes

  • This pasta salad can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Toss well before serving to redistribute the dressing.
  • Do not break the capellini strands before cooking; their long, delicate shape is a key feature of the dish.
  • It’s even better the next day as the flavors meld.
  • If capellini is unavailable, thin spaghetti can be used as a substitute.

Keywords: Capers, Pasta Salad, Lemon Pasta Salad, Capellini, Angel Hair Pasta, Side Dish, Italian

Find it online: https://tastygenius.com/lemon-capellini-salad-recipe-2/