Creamy Lemon Dill Pasta Salad
Creamy Lemon Dill Pasta Salad
Ingredients
16 oz (1 lb / 454 g) rotini pasta
¾ cup (180 ml) mayonnaise
½ cup (120 ml) sour cream or Mexican crema
4 Tbsp red wine vinegar, divided
2 Tbsp dried dill
1½ tsp lemon pepper
1½ tsp granulated sugar
1 lemon (juice; slices for garnish optional)
1 small–medium red onion, finely diced
1 seedless (English) cucumber, quartered lengthwise and sliced
3 celery ribs, finely diced
¼ cup (10 g) chives, thinly sliced
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped (add just before serving)
*Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Prep & cook pasta: Wash and dry all vegetables. Cook rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water; set aside to cool completely.
Dice the vegetables: Finely dice the red onion and celery. Quarter the seedless cucumber lengthwise and slice into small bite-size pieces. Add all three to a mixing bowl.
Quick-pickle the veg: Sprinkle the veggies with 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar (from the 4 Tbsp total), a light pinch of sugar, salt, black pepper, a pinch of lemon pepper, and a pinch of dried dill. Toss to coat and let sit 15–30 minutes (or up to a few hours in the fridge) to mellow and build flavor.
Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream (or crema), the remaining 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar, remaining dried dill, remaining lemon pepper, remaining sugar, and the juice of 1 lemon. Season with salt and pepper to taste; adjust acidity or seasoning as needed.
Combine: Add the marinated vegetables (and any juices) to the dressing and toss to coat. Fold in the cooled, drained pasta until evenly dressed.
Finish & serve: Just before serving, chop the romaine and fold it into the salad. Top with thin lemon slices, a sprinkle of dried dill and black pepper, and the finely sliced chives. Serve chilled or cool.
Make-Ahead Tip: Keep the chopped romaine separate until serving time. The dressed pasta/veg mix holds well; add lettuce and fresh lemon/chives at the last minute for the best crunch and brightness.
