The Best, Easy Pasta Salad Recipe, with a Lemon Dressing

Table of Contents

What Is Baby Led Weaning?

Baby-led weaning is a popular method of introducing solid foods to babies in a more independent and self-regulated way. Rather than spoon-feeding purees, baby-led weaning allows infants to explore and experiment with a wide range of healthy foods at their own pace. It involves offering appropriately sized and textured finger foods that babies can grasp, bite, and chew on their own. This approach not only promotes fine motor skills development but also encourages self-feeding and fosters a positive relationship with food from the very beginning. Baby-led weaning empowers little ones to become more adventurous eaters as they explore various tastes, textures, and colours, all while enjoying a shared mealtime experience with the family. See my article entitled Baby led weaning vs spoon feeding - The Pros and Cons

What Pasta Shapes Can I Give My Baby?

Penne pasta is an excellent choice for introducing baby led weaning into your little one's diet. With its tubular shape, penne is easy for tiny hands to grasp, promoting self-feeding and fine motor skills development. The slightly firm texture provides a satisfying mouthfeel while still being soft enough for babies' developing chewing abilities. Penne's hollow centre also allows for the pasta to absorb flavours from accompanying sauces or purees, enhancing both taste and nutrition. Whether served with a simple tomato sauce, mixed with vegetables liked this one, or paired with protein-rich ingredients like pulled chicken or tofu, penne pasta offers a versatile and nutritious option for your baby's exploratory food journey.

The Benefits Offering Penne Pasta To Your Baby?

Penne pasta is not just an ideal choice for baby food; it is also a delicious and nutritious option for adults. Its versatility allows for a wide range of flavours and culinary creations. Whether tossed in a vibrant tomato sauce or mixed with fresh vegetables, penne pasta provides a satisfying and wholesome meal for adults seeking a comforting dish. Furthermore, its shape and texture make it perfect for holding onto a variety of saucy accompaniments and ingredients, ensuring each bite is bursting with flavour. Penne pasta is a timeless classic that appeals to all ages, proving that it is indeed a delightful option for adults too.

Fresh Herbs Versus Dried Herbs?

Fresh herbs and dried herbs each bring their own unique flavours and characteristics to a pasta salad. Fresh herbs, like basil, parsley, or coriander, add a vibrant and crisp taste to the dish. Their fragrant aroma and bright colours elevate the overall appearance and presentation of the salad, making it visually appealing. On the other hand, dried herbs, such as oregano, thyme, or rosemary, offer a more concentrated and intense flavour profile. These herbs infuse the pasta salad with an earthy and robust taste, enhancing the depth of its flavours. While fresh herbs lend a refreshing and aromatic note, dried herbs contribute a more assertive and long-lasting essence. The choice between fresh or dried herbs ultimately depends on preference and the desired outcome of the pasta salad. Whether you opt for the freshness of the garden or the convenience of the spice cabinet, both options offer delightful flavours that can elevate a simple pasta salad to new heights of deliciousness.

How Should I Serve Fresh Veggies In This Pasta Recipe?

Grating vegetables is an excellent option for baby-led weaning, as it helps introduce a variety of textures to your little one's diet. By grating vegetables, you can create soft, manageable pieces that are easy for your baby to hold and explore independently. This method also allows them to practice their fine motor skills while discovering new tastes and sensations. Grated vegetables, such as carrots or cucumber can be mixed into other dishes or served on their own as a healthy snack. Just ensure that the pieces are grated finely enough to prevent any choking hazards, and always supervise your baby during mealtime to ensure they are eating safely. Grating vegetables provides an exciting opportunity to encourage your little one on their journey towards enjoying a wide range of nutritious foods.

Investing in a good grater may seem like a small decision, but it can make a significant difference in your kitchen adventures. A high-quality grater not only saves you time and effort but also enhances the flavour and texture of your dishes. Whether you're grating cheese, zesting citrus fruits, or grating vegetables, a sturdy grater with sharp blades ensures precision and consistency. It allows you to effortlessly create fine, uniform shreds that melt smoothly or garnish your dishes beautifully. Investing in a good grater is a smart choice for any kitchen enthusiast, as it adds versatility and efficiency to your cooking arsenal, ultimately elevating your culinary creations to new heights.

The Perfect Recipe For Hot Summer Months

Pasta salad is an excellent option for a make-ahead meal that is both tasty and nutritious for your baby, perfect for the summer months. With its soft, easy-to-chew pasta and variety of colourful veggies, it provides a well-rounded, balanced meal. You can customise the salad by adding baby-friendly ingredients like diced avocado, cooked squished peas, or small pieces of pulled chicken. The pasta salad can be prepared in advance, allowing the flavours to melt together, making it even more delicious when served. It is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish, providing your little one with energy and essential nutrients. Plus, the convenience of having a ready-to-eat meal on hand is a time-saver for busy parents.

Why You Should Make This Pasta Recipe

If you're in the mood for a refreshing and satisfying dish for your baby, you should definitely try my homemade pasta salad recipe. This delightful creation of simple ingredients offers a wonderful blend of flavours and textures that will leave you craving for more. The combination of pasta, vegetables, tangy lemon, and savoury herbs creates a symphony of taste in every bite. Not only is this pasta salad incredibly delicious, but it's also incredibly versatile. You can customise it by adding your baby’s favourite ingredients like olives, tomatoes, or tuna, making it perfect for kids parties, picnics, or even as a meal on its own. So, go ahead and bring a burst of flavour into your kitchen with my pasta salad recipe. Your taste buds will thank you!

Ingredient information

Pasta - I have used penne pasta that is great for baby led weaning, as it can be easily picked up.

Carrot - Grated carrot is great for weaning, great from 6 months old.

Cucumber - Grated carrot works well in this recipe, it is a great baby led weaning vegetable.

Apple - Grated apple is great for baby led weaning.

Radish - This veggie can be left out if you didn’t want such a peppery taste in the salad.

Lemon - Adds a freshness to this salad, perfect for the a summer months.

Parsley - I have used fresh parsley as it works so well with the other ingredients.

Serving suggestion

You can serve this cold pasta salad, hot or cold, personally my son and I prefer the recipe warm. You could serve with more veggies such as steamed broccoli or green beans it’s completely up to you.

The pasta recipe is a complete meal so it can be served on its own. You could follow the meal with a peach melba, strawberry dessert or a blackberry cheesecake.

Storage instructions

The pasta can be kept in the fridge in a large airlock container or it can be portioned into small airtight containers.

The pasta can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days or up to 3 months in the freezer.

To defrost the pasta correctly, leave in the fridge overnight in an airlock container, make sure that it is fully defrosted before serving.

If you wanted to reheat the pasta, you can heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Check the temperature before serving.

When storing the pasta in the fridge don’t worry if the apple discolours slightly, it will not affect the taste. The lemon juice should prevent this from happening a little bit.

Equipment used to help with this recipe

Large airtight container - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use. 

Small airtight container - Just 180 ml storage capacity but very useful for leftovers and freezing small baby portions.

Large Bowl - This is a bowl that I use almost every day in my kitchen, it is great and can be used for many recipes from sweet to savoury.

Recipe | The Best, Easy Pasta Salad Recipe, with a Lemon Dressing

Ingredients

Makes 4 medium sized portions

• 200g penne pasta

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 1/4 cucumber, grated

• 1 mini apple, grated

• 1 raddish, grated

• 1/4 lemon, juiced

• Handful fresh parsley, chopped

• A grind of black pepper

Instructions

• Start by cooking the pasta in hot water until very soft. Usually approx 15 minutes. Check the package directions. You do not want the pasta to be al dente.

• Once the pasta is cooked and soft, leave to cool slightly.

• Once cooled, add in all the other ingredients: carrot, cucumber, raddish, parsley and black pepper to a large mixing bowl.

• Squeeze over the lemon juice for the pasta salad dressing.

• Stir well and serve.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

If you wanted to use a different combination of vegetables you absolutely could add diced red onion, sliced red pepper (bell peppers), green beans, cherry tomatoes (quartered) spinach with the apple all work really well together. As a fun twist you could add in some artichoke hearts too! You can really get creative in the kitchen, or it is a good way to use up the vegetables that you have that are left over.

---

©The Petit Spoon

Content and photographs are copyright protected and need prior permission to use elsewhere. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to other websites and any social media is strictly prohibited. Sharing and using the link of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated! Share this post now!

---