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Lemon Capellini Salad Recipe

4.7 from 116 reviews

This light and refreshing Lemon Capellini Salad combines delicate angel hair pasta with zesty lemon, juicy tomatoes, briny capers, and fresh parsley. Tossed in a simple lemon and olive oil dressing, it’s perfect as a quick lunch or a vibrant side dish for any meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 8 oz capellini pasta (or angel hair pasta)

Dressing

  • 2 medium lemons (juice of + 1 tsp lemon zest)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Add-ins

  • ½ cup diced tomatoes (seeds removed)
  • 3 tbsp capers (drained)
  • 1 tbsp curly leaf parsley (finely chopped)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the capellini pasta until tender, which should only take a few minutes due to the thinness of the pasta. Drain the pasta and rinse it with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent it from sticking.
  2. Prepare the dressing: While the pasta cooks, combine the juice of 2 lemons, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk these ingredients together thoroughly to create a bright and tangy dressing.
  3. Toss the salad: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the dressing. Then add ½ cup of diced tomatoes (with seeds removed) and 3 tablespoons of drained capers. Toss everything gently to ensure even coating of the dressing on all ingredients.
  4. Add fresh herbs and serve: Stir in 1 tablespoon of finely chopped curly leaf parsley for added freshness and flavor. Give the salad one final gentle toss, then serve immediately or cover and chill it in the refrigerator until you are ready to serve.

Notes

  • Rinsing the pasta after cooking prevents it from overcooking and sticking together, keeping the texture light and perfect for a salad.
  • Removing tomato seeds helps reduce excess moisture, preventing the salad from becoming watery.
  • This salad can be served immediately or chilled; chilling allows flavors to meld beautifully.
  • For extra zest, add more lemon zest or a splash of lemon juice before serving.
  • Substitute capers with sliced olives for a different briny twist.

Keywords: Lemon Capellini Salad, angel hair pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, lemon pasta salad, capers, light pasta salad