Name: Tex-Mex Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon tomatillo salsa; 1 tablespoon low-fat plain Greek yogurt; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 0.75 cup chopped red bell pepper; 0.75 cup frozen shelled edamame (4 oz.), cooked according to package directions, drained and cooled; 0.5 cup cooked orzo, preferably whole-wheat, cooled; 0.25 cup chopped red onion; 2 tablespoons shredded pepper Jack cheese; 0.125 teaspoon salt; 0.125 teaspoon ground pepper; Hot sauce, to taste; 1 tablespoon toasted pepitas (see Tip); Lime wedge, for serving

Tex-Mex Pasta Salad

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A light and creamy green-salsa dressing highlights this easy pasta salad with Southwestern flavors.

Sara Haas, RDN

Updated on September 6, 2019

Prep Time:

10 mins

Additional Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

15 mins

Servings:

Yield:

3 cups

Nutrition Profile:

Heart Healthy Low-Calorie High Fiber Diabetes Appropriate Egg Free Vegetarian Low Sodium Nut-Free High Blood Pressure High Calcium Bone Health Healthy Aging Healthy Immunity Healthy Pregnancy Low Added Sugars

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Ingredients

1 tablespoon tomatillo salsa
1 tablespoon low-fat plain Greek yogurt
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¾ cup chopped red bell pepper
¾ cup frozen shelled edamame (4 oz.), cooked according to package directions, drained and cooled
½ cup cooked orzo, preferably whole-wheat, cooled
¼ cup chopped red onion
2 tablespoons shredded pepper Jack cheese
⅛ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
Hot sauce, to taste
1 tablespoon toasted pepitas (see Tip)
Lime wedge, for serving

Directions

Whisk salsa and yogurt in a small bowl. Set aside.
Combine tomatoes, bell pepper, edamame, orzo, onion, and cheese in a bowl. Add salt, pepper, and the salsa dressing; toss to combine. Season with hot sauce to taste, sprinkle with pepitas, and serve with lime wedge, if desired.

Tips

Tip: Pepitas are pumpkin seeds, but they differ from the seeds you scrape out of your Halloween pumpkin: they come from certain varieties of pumpkins that produce seeds without a tough outer hull. You can find pepitas in bulk bins in natural-foods stores and large supermarkets, and online at nuts.com and elsewhere. To toast: Set a small pan over medium heat and add pepitas. Cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 1 to 2 minutes.

To make ahead: Cook pasta up to 1 day ahead and refrigerate.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

403	Calories
13g	Fat
51g	Carbs
24g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Calories 403
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 51g	18%
Dietary Fiber 15g	55%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 24g	48%
Total Fat 13g	17%
Saturated Fat 3g	17%
Cholesterol 14mg	5%
Vitamin A 5079IU	102%
Vitamin C 177mg	197%
Folate 358mcg	90%
Sodium 520mg	23%
Calcium 213mg	16%
Iron 4mg	21%
Magnesium 134mg	32%
Potassium 1229mg	26%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.