Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Printable)

Refreshing pasta salad with crisp cucumbers, tender shells, fresh dill, and tangy creamy dressing topped with everything bagel seasoning.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 8 oz small shell pasta
02 - 1 teaspoon salt for pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups cucumber, diced (about 1 large English cucumber)
04 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 1/2 cup sour cream
07 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
08 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 clove garlic, minced
11 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
12 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Seasoning

13 - 1 1/2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add shell pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until completely cooled.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
03 - Add the cooled pasta, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and fresh dill to the dressing. Toss gently until all components are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle the everything bagel seasoning over the salad and fold gently until the seasoning is distributed throughout. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
05 - Transfer the salad to a serving dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and the salad to become well chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes better cold the next day, so you can make it ahead without any guilt.
  • The everything bagel seasoning does all the heavy lifting for flavor, no need to fuss with a dozen spices.
  • Cucumbers keep it light and crunchy even when the pasta soaks up all that creamy dressing.
  • It works as a side dish or a full lunch, and nobody ever guesses how easy it actually is.
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water after draining or the residual heat will make your dressing thin and sad.
  • Do not skip the chilling time, the salad tastes flat and one dimensional if you serve it warm or right away.
  • If it looks dry after sitting in the fridge, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or mayo to bring it back to life.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the garlic instead of mincing it, it distributes more evenly and you will not bite into a chunk.
  • If you can only find regular cucumbers, scoop out the seeds with a spoon before dicing or they will make the salad watery.
  • Taste the everything bagel seasoning before you add it, some brands are saltier than others and you might need to hold back on the salt in the dressing.
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