When the weather is hot, and fresh vegetables are still available on the grocery shelf, we want a delicious cold salad, but one that is more substantial than just lettuce. Black Bean Pasta Salad Instant Pot is a great summer dish that is packed with flavor and nutrition. Did you know that black bean pasta has 14 grams of protein per serving? For that reason, all of my pasta dishes are either lentil or black bean pasta.
Can You Cook Pasta In The Instant Pot?
The answer is yes! In order to spend less time in the kitchen at the stove, my new favorite way to cook pasta is in the Instant Pot. Although pasta in the Instant Pot can be fickle, the pasta is ready in 3 minutes if you time it just right. To add fresh flavor to the pasta, just toss in spiralized zucchini, fresh cherry tomatoes, homegrown leeks, olives and cranberries for a little sweet and a little savory combo. When you top it all with creamy avocado dressing, this salad will be a hit with your crowd, and leftovers are perfect for lunch. This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free.
Tools used in this recipe:
Instant Pot-6 quart. Check out my review of my new favorite cooking tool.
Nutri Bullet “Veggie Bullet” Food Processor, Silver
Vitamix 5300 Blender, Black
Black Bean Pasta Salad-Instant Pot
Ready in less than 30 minutes, this protein packed pasta salad, topped with avocado dressing is yummy!
Ingredients
Black Bean Pasta Salad
- 12 oz black bean pasta I used Trader Joe's Organic Black Bean Rotini
- 2 zucchini, spiralized
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped leeks
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts for garnish
Avocado Dressing
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup water add gradually to food processor
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Black Bean Pasta Salad
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Add pasta to Instant Pot with 4 cups of water. Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. QR, quick release pressure. DO NOT cook for longer than 3 minutes or fail to release pressure immediately. (you will have bean soup) Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
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Spiralize zucchini, or if you don't have a spiralizer, shred with food processor.
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Slice cherry tomatoes and leeks.
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Add olives and dried cranberries
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Mix all ingredients together. Top with dressing and garnish with pine nuts.
Avocado Dressing
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Blend all ingredients in high speed blender. Pour on pasta salad and mix.
Serve your pasta salad topped with avocado dressing and pinenuts
Single serving of Black Bean Pasta Salad
Homemade creamy avocado dressing
Add zucchini, black bean pasta, olives, fresh tomatoes, leeks and dried cranberries.
Spiralize zucchini
Cook black bean pasta in Instant Pot for 3 minutes.
Blend dressing ingredients in Vitamix Blender
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