Ingredients:
- 1 lb dry rotini pasta
- 2 tbsp sea salt
- 1 cup English cucumber, quartered and sliced
- 1 large red bell pepper, finely diced
- 0.5 cup red onion, soaked and drained
- 1 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
- 0.5 cup shredded carrots
- 4 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 0.5 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp cracked black pepper
Instructions:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of sea salt. Cook the rotini pasta for about 8 minutes. Check for a firm al dente bite.
- Drain the pasta in a colander and immediately rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess surface starch.
- While the pasta cools, place your diced red onions in a small bowl of cold water for 10 minutes, then drain.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the 4 oz softened cream cheese and 0.5 cup Greek yogurt. Whisk until no lumps remain.
- Add the 0.5 cup mayo, lemon juice, pickle juice, and spices. Whisk until the mixture looks glossy and velvety.
- Prep the garden. Fold in the cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and the 1 cup of thawed peas.
- Add the cooled rotini to the bowl. Use a spatula to toss until every spiral is fully coated.
- Fold in the 2 tbsp of fresh dill at the very end to keep the color vibrant.
- Chill. Let the salad sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Check if it needs an extra splash of pickle juice before serving.