Super Easy Pasta Salad

Fresh and simple, this pasta salad keeps the veggies raw, retaining their vitamin C content, which helps to absorb the iron from the garbanzo beans and whole wheat pasta. Want an added iron and protein boost? Add canned fish, cooked tofu, or cooked chicken. Looking to rev up the vitamin C? Include fruit like citrus, melons, berries, pineapple and mango as an appetizer or dessert.

Ingredients

8 ounces whole wheat penne

15 1⁄2 ounces chickpeas/garbanzo beans (canned, no salt added, drained and rinsed)

1 cup carrots (shredded)

1 yellow bell pepper

1 cucumber

10 ounces cherry tomatoes (one package should be 10 ounces)

1⁄3 cup lite Italian salad dressing

Yield amount

6 servings

Instructions

Start cooking the pasta according to the package instructions.
If using canned beans, drain and rinse the garbanzo beans in a colander and then place in a large bowl with the carrots.
Cut the bell pepper into 1-inch pieces and place in the bowl with the beans and carrots.
Slice the cucumber and then cut slices into quarters and add them to the bowl.
When the pasta is done, rinse with cold water in a colander. Add to the bowl.
Add the tomatoes to the bowl; mix with dressing.

Notes

Equipment you’ll need:

A large pot to cook the pasta
Colander
Can opener
Knife
Spoon
Large bowl
Cutting board
Measuring spoons and cups