Warm weather is our cue to mix up a chilled batch of refreshing pasta salad, especially when it’s packed with probiotics and protein found in Lifeway Kefir. This Creamy Kefir Ranch Pasta Salad is the perfect choice and is packed with flavor and nutrition.
Our kefir can be mixed with any of your favorite salad spices and pasta seasonings to be used the same way as buttermilk in pasta salad and in dressing recipes. Since it’s rich in live and active probiotic cultures, kefir supports overall gut health and provides a complete source of protein to help keep you full and satisfied. We added some of our favorite fresh veggies to the mix, along with seasonal herbs, both of which liven up the recipe and work perfectly with our plain kefir to create a delicious and filling pasta salad.
Want an instant upgrade? Add a few dollops of Farmer Cheese into the pasta salad before you set it in the fridge. Our Farmer Cheese boosts this dish with more protein and helps add an even richer texture without all the salt and preservatives found in store-bought sauces and dressings.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with a variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese,a creamy, high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and a healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 30 mins + time to set in the fridge (4-6 hours is best) Servings: 8-10Ingredients
- 8 ounces small pasta (elbow, macaroni, rotini, fusilli, or farfalle work best)
- 1 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1/4 cup mayo of choice
- 1 packet of ranch seasoning powder - or your favorite dry dressing seasoning (we like Simply Organic brand)
- 1 1/2 diced seedless cucumbers (English cucumbers)
- 1/2 diced red onion (or finely sliced)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or whole
- 1/8 cup fresh dill, diced
- 1/8 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, diced
- 1/8 cup freshly chopped chives
- juice of a lemon
- fresh black pepper to taste
Directions
- Cook the pasta as it says on the box, then let it cool completely (place in the fridge to cool) for at least 30 minutes. You can speed the recipe up by doing this ahead of time.
- Once the pasta is nice and cold, add it to a large bowl and mix it up with all the rest of the ingredients. Toss well to coat.
- Feel free to add whatever other chopped veggies you want or seasonings you like.
- Set it in the fridge at least 4-6 hours to let the flavors marry together the best. Even better? Make this the night before and let it set overnight for an even more intense flavor that really hits home.
- Want to give this recipe an upgrade? Add a few dollops of Lifeway Farmer Cheese into the mix before you set it in the fridge, which packs in more protein and helps add an even richer texture.
