Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

Name: Gluten-Free Pasta Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: Gluten-free Ditalini pasta 7 oz; Speck 2.8 oz; Piccadilly tomatoes 0.9 cup; Black olives 0.7 cup; Feta cheese 3.5 oz; Basil 4 leaves; Extra virgin olive oil 3 ½ tbsp; Fine salt to taste; Black pepper to taste; Meat broth 4 ¼ cups

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543

Calories per serving

Gluten Free

Energy Kcal 543
Carbohydrates g 43.3
of which sugars g 3.4
Protein g 17.2
Fats g 33.4
of which saturated fat g 8.28
Fiber g 2.4
Cholesterol mg 35
Sodium mg 1380

Difficulty: Very easy
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Serving: 4
Cost: Low
Note + the preparation time for the meat broth

PRESENTATION

Gluten-free pastina salad is like comfort food with a twist—seriously good stuff. You take the tiny pasta, which usually screams winter comfort, and turn it into something bright, fresh, and super fun. And here's the thing, instead of just plain old broth, the ditalini—picked specially to keep it gluten-free—gets cooked in this rich, meaty broth. Really soaks into every piece. That broth, I gotta say, makes a huge difference, giving you a tender bite with way, way more depth than your average pasta salad.

Once it cools, things get pretty colorful. Sweet pops from chopped cherry tomatoes, plus salty olives, and little chunks of speck (you know, that famous Italian cured ham) add a savory kick. Also, toss in some creamy feta and a handful of basil leaves, and suddenly, you’ve got a gluten-free Italian salad that's nothing like the usual stuff people expect from pastina. It's seriously good.

For families, this dish is perfect—no question. It lets you enjoy the comfort of pasta all summer without any heaviness. Plus, it's a real standout at picnics or in school lunches. You know, those Mediterranean touches—like feta, olives, and basil—turn each bite into a mix of tangy, moist, and slightly crispy flavors. I mean, Italian kitchens always love playing around with regional twists, and this one makes gluten-free pasta salad something everyone can enjoy—not just folks on a gluten-free diet.

Also, it’s a great way to get kids to eat more colorful foods. The little pasta shapes are still there, but with a cool new vibe. Thing is, this whole salad holds up in the fridge really, really well, making it handy for gluten-free meal prep or last-minute get-togethers. For those who thought pastina was just for soup or cold days, they might be surprised at how much they like this bright, savory salad once they try it. It's a fresh take—keeping Italian tradition alive while bringing something new to the table. Pretty much.

How to prepare Gluten-Free Pasta Salad

To prepare the gluten-free pasta salad, start by making a good Beef Broth. Clean the vegetables, cut them, and place them in a pot along with the meat and cover with 3 liters (about 12 cups) of water 1. Let it cook for two hours over medium-high heat, add another 1 liter (about 4 cups) of water, and finish cooking for an hour over low heat 2. At the end of cooking, strain the broth 3.

And transfer it back to the pot. When it starts boiling again, take the pasta 4 and cook it in the meat broth. While the ditalini cook, prepare the dressing. Clean the tomatoes and cut them into wedges first 5 and then into cubes 6.

Cut the speck into strips 7 and the feta into cubes 8. Finally, pit the olives 9.

Drain the cooked pasta 10 and transfer it to a large bowl. Dress it immediately with a tablespoon of oil, mix it to prevent sticking 11, and let it cool. Then add the cherry tomatoes, the feta 12.

The speck 13, the olives 14, and the hand-torn basil 15.

Finally, season with salt and pepper 16 and mix well to combine the flavors 17. Now your gluten-free pasta salad is ready to enjoy!

Storage

You can store the gluten-free pasta salad in the fridge well covered for 1 day.

Tip

The great thing about pasta salads is that they can be customized without limits: try adding capers or sun-dried tomatoes, or some cubes of mozzarella or soft cheese, or for more delicate palates, replace the flavorful speck with diced cooked ham! If you don't have fresh basil available, you can use dried oregano!

To store the meat broth, if you've used fresh, not thawed ingredients, you could freeze it in small portions to use as needed.

For Proper Gluten-Free Recipe Preparation

For gluten-free recipes, we recommend purchasing only products that display the crossed-out wheat symbol on the packaging, certified gluten-free, as recommended by the AIC Italian Celiac Association guide.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.