Gnocchi Pasta Salad Recipe (Vegetarian)
This gnocchi pasta salad recipe is a bright, fresh, and tasty appetizer loaded with chopped veggies, feta cheese, and an easy homemade vinaigrette dressing. A favorite pasta salad recipe to bring to a cookout, tailgate, potluck, or BBQ!
This easy pasta salad with gnocchi is easy to make ahead of time. It’s one crowd pleaser dish that everyone will love. It’s a great vegetarian side, and can easily be made vegan, dairy free or gluten free!
Gnocchi is one of my favorite pasta shapes – it’s soft, thick, and so great in pasta salads! This gnocchi pasta salad is a bright, tangy, and a fresh take on classic pasta salads. The fresh vegetables add flavor, and are so good tossed with an easy garlicky homemade pasta salad dressing.
I normally make pasta salads with medium or short pastas, but I couldn’t resist switching it up and using a thick noodle like gnocchi. It makes the perfect accompaniment for the chopped veggies, so you get a delicious crunch in every bite.
This Gnocchi Pasta Salad Recipe Is
- Bright
- Tangy
- Vibrant
- Loaded with Flavor
- Fresh
- Simple to Make
- Vegetarian
What Is Gnocchi?
Gnocchi is a traditional Italian pasta that originated in the northern regions of Italy, dating back to Roman times. It is typically made from mashed potatoes, flour, and sometimes eggs, resulting in small, soft dumplings.
Gnocchi has a delicate, doughy texture and a mild flavor that pairs well with a variety of sauces, making it a super versatile pasta. While gnocchi is traditionally served hot, it’s fantastic in this pasta salad once it’s been cooled!
Easy Vegetarian Gnocchi Recipe
This veggie-packed gnocchi salad is an easy way to sneak more greens into your diet. I’m all about making dishes meat-free whenever I can. Vegetarian cooking doesn’t have to be dull or tasteless – it’s quite the opposite when done right.
With some basic pantry staples and a few plant-based pantry ingredients, you can whip up better meals for yourself and your family. Enjoy hearty and delicious meals without meat.
Browse through all our modern vegetarian recipes here. These simple and wholesome dishes are perfect for meatless meals at home!
What’s In This Pasta Salad with Gnocchi?
See the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and instructions.
- Gnocchi – I love this classic potato gnocchi which is super light, tender, and so good in this salad.
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s inexpensive & I like to keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry.
- Red Wine Vinegar: I used red wine vinegar for the marinade to give this dish a really nice bright Mediterranean flavor – for that, this red wine vinegar is my go-to!
- Oregano: a spice I always put in my pasta salads! This dried oregano has a bright and earthy flavor, and goes so well with the fresh crunchy vegetables.
- Salt & Pepper
- Spinach
- Feta Cheese – I used a crumbled feta for this recipe, but you can also use a block of feta cheese, mashed with a fork before adding to the salad.
How Do I Make this Gnocchi Salad with Vegetables?
- Boil a large pot of salted water, and cook gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain gnocchi under cold water to stop them cooking, then place them back in their cooking pot and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to keep them from sticking. Set aside.
- Dice the cucumber and tomatoes, grate the carrots, chop the spinach, and add all veggies to a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Add the gnocchi and dressing to the bowl and toss well to coat all the ingredients together. Garnish with extra tomatoes and feta cheese if desired.
- Serve room temperature, within 2 hours of making. If gnocchi is refrigerated, it can become hard so I would recommend not refrigerating this salad overnight if possible.
Dietary Modifications
- This recipe is vegetarian. To make vegan or dairy free, you can omit the feta cheese or use a plant-based substitute.
- To make this gluten free, ensure you use a certified gluten free gnocchi and dressing ingredients. Always check labels to ensure all ingredients are certified gluten free before using.
Modern Salad Recipes You’ll Love
This gnocchi salad is great to enjoy any time of year – you can find sweet cherry tomatoes all year long in grocery stores, which work fantastically in this salad. Salads are super versatile, so feel free to swap in a veggie or two that is your favorite.
Browse all our modern salad recipes, which can be dressed up or down for any occasion.
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Gnocchi Pasta Salad
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
For the Gnocchi Pasta Salad
- 16 ounces gnocchi
- 8 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced
- 1 medium carrot shredded
- 1 cucumber diced
- 2 cups baby spinach chopped
- 1 cup feta cheese crumbled
For the Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup sunflower oil
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or finely minced
- 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water, and cook gnocchi according to package instructions. Drain gnocchi under cold water to stop them cooking, then place them back in their cooking pot and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to keep them from sticking. Set aside.
- Dice the cucumber and tomatoes, grate the carrots, chop the spinach, and add all veggies to a bowl.
- In a separate bowl, mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Add the gnocchi and dressing to the bowl and toss well to coat all the ingredients together. Garnish with extra tomatoes and feta cheese if desired.
- Serve room temperature, within 2 hours of making. If gnocchi is refrigerated, it can become hard so I would recommend not refrigerating this salad overnight if possible.
So tasty
This a beautiful and delicious dish