Grilled Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta Salad
Photo: Leo Gong; Styling: Dan Becker
Total Time 1 hr 15 mins

Here’s a great way to use summer’s abundant squashes. Toasted pine nuts and briny kalamata olives make this pasta salad a standout.

How to Make It

Step 1
1

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender to the bite, 9 to 12 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water until completely cool (see Notes).

Step 2
2

Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for medium heat (you can hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 5 to 7 seconds). Thread squash and zucchini chunks onto 10- to 12-in. metal skewers and place on a baking sheet. Brush vegetables with 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil on all sides and sprinkle with salt to taste. Transfer to grill and cook 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, or until vegetables are very tender.

Step 3
3

Meanwhile, whisk together remaining olive oil, the vinegar, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a small bowl.

Step 4
4

With a fork, push vegetables off skewers back onto baking sheet and toss them in oil left there. In a large bowl, toss together pasta, vegetables, oregano, pine nuts, and olives. Add dressing and salt and pepper to taste; toss. Serve warm or cold.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1-cup serving.

Ingredients

 16 ounces farfalle (bowtie) pasta
 1 pound yellow summer (crookneck) squash, cut into 1-in. chunks
 1 pound zucchini, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-in. chunks
 1/2 cup olive oil, divided
  Salt
 2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
  About 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
 1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives

Directions

Step 1
1

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender to the bite, 9 to 12 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold water until completely cool (see Notes).

Step 2
2

Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for medium heat (you can hold your hand 5 in. above cooking grate only 5 to 7 seconds). Thread squash and zucchini chunks onto 10- to 12-in. metal skewers and place on a baking sheet. Brush vegetables with 1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil on all sides and sprinkle with salt to taste. Transfer to grill and cook 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally, or until vegetables are very tender.

Step 3
3

Meanwhile, whisk together remaining olive oil, the vinegar, and 1/2 tsp. pepper in a small bowl.

Step 4
4

With a fork, push vegetables off skewers back onto baking sheet and toss them in oil left there. In a large bowl, toss together pasta, vegetables, oregano, pine nuts, and olives. Add dressing and salt and pepper to taste; toss. Serve warm or cold.

Step 5
5

Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1-cup serving.

Grilled Yellow Squash and Zucchini Pasta Salad

Search All of Sunset's Recipes