Cucumber Crunch Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Tender pasta with crisp cucumbers, fresh dill, and tangy creamy dressing topped with everything bagel seasoning.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

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

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups cucumber, diced
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

# How To Make:

01 - Cook shell pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package directions until al dente. Drain 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 smooth and well combined.
03 - Add cooled pasta, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and fresh dill to the bowl with dressing. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the salad and fold gently until distributed evenly throughout.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor development.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The everything bagel seasoning is the secret ingredient that makes people instantly ask what is in it
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent way more time on it
02 -
  • Rinsing the pasta with cold water is not optional, it stops the cooking process and prevents the shells from becoming mushy
  • The salad needs that minimum 30 minutes in the fridge, otherwise the dressing will taste separate from the pasta instead of harmonious
03 -
  • Use a box grater to quickly shred the cucumber instead of dicing if you want the flavor distributed more evenly throughout
  • Double the everything bagel seasoning and keep some on hand to sprinkle right before serving for maximum crunch factor
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