Rustic Broiled Vegetable and Rigatoni Salad
Broiled vegetables are delicious with chunky pasta in a tangy dressing. Serve this rustic broiled vegetable and rigatoni salad as a light lunch or as an accompaniment to broiled poultry or meat, when it will serve 6 or 8 people.
200 g rigatoni or penne
1 large red pepper, seeded and halved
1⁄2 red onion, thickly sliced
1 eggplant, trimmed and sliced lengthwise
1 zucchini, thickly sliced
150 g button mushrooms, halved
200 g cherry tomatoes
80 g arugula
2 1⁄2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese
Dressing
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or lemon juice
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons shredded fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped capers
1 large garlic clove, crushed (optional)
pepper to taste
- Cook the rigatoni in boiling water for 10–12 minutes, or according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold running water, then drain again thoroughly and set aside to cool.
- Meanwhile, broil the pepper halves, skin side up, until blistered and blackened. Place in a plastic bag, then leave until cool enough to handle.
- Broil the onion and eggplant for about 2 minutes or until slightly charred. Turn them over so that they cook evenly. Add the zucchini, mushrooms and tomatoes to the broiler, and broil all the vegetables for a further 2–3 minutes. Remove the pieces as they are ready. Place them in a large salad bowl.
- Cut the eggplant slices into 2 cm strips. Peel the pepper and cut into 2 cm strips. Add the eggplant and pepper strips to the salad bowl, with the arugula. Mix in the rigatoni.
- To make the dressing, mix the balsamic vinegar or lemon juice with the olive oil, basil, capers, garlic, if using, and pepper in a small bowl. Lightly toss this dressing into the broiled vegetable and rigatoni salad. Sprinkle with shavings of Parmesan cheese and serve.
cooking time 20 mins, plus 30 mins marinating
serves 4
PER SERVING
356 calories
13 g protein
18 g total fat
4 g saturated fat
7 mg cholesterol
36 g total carbohydrate
7 g sugars
8 g fibre
160 mg sodium
Broiling or baking is a healthy cooking method for vegetables like eggplants, which can absorb large amounts of fat when they are fried. Adding a little Parmesan cheese to pasta dishes contributes useful calcium as well as a wonderful cheesy flavour.
Source: Cook Smart for a Healthy Heart, Reader's Digest Canada
This salad is absolutely delicious!! I added a jalapeno and tons of whole clove garlic to the broiling process (I like my spice and I worship roasted garlic). I also couldn't find arugula in the grocery store, so I went with spinach, which was good (plus I get the added benefits of eating spinach). I initially thought the balsamic would've been overpowering and wished I had picked up white balsamic instead BUT after making the dressing and pouring it over the salad, it was quite surprisingly good!! And I had never had capers before, but I love the bite they add to the dressing. I can't wait to eat this for lunch tomorrow! I don't know if I'll enjoy it cold, so I think I'll warm it up, but either way I know it'll be delicious!