Olive Pasta with Kumquat Vinaigrette

i'm ooo and can't answer my emails rn. aka i'm living up this labor day weekend in southern california! getting to buy vanilla matcha lattes instead of making mediocre versions, visiting my fave, eating the good things, basking in beachy sunsets.

in case you need a last minute side dish for labor day though, how about this olive pasta with kumquat vinaigrette?!

although, if kumquat vinaigrette is kind of freaking you out, i got you. maybe a cauliflower, pecan and feta pasta, or a kimchi and creamed kale pasta instead?

i'm on a huge citrus kick right now, and i love how citrusy this pasta salad is. i used preserved kumquats that my aunt pickled, but preserved lemon would also be really tasty here. there's the salty olives, which we all know i could eat a jar of plain.

there's arugula, which i normally find too peppery, that mellows out and breaks up all the pasta when the two get tossed together.

i was lazy and didn't grate the parm here; do as i say and not as i do. when you grate it, it infuses into the pasta so much nicer. and let's be real, hazelnuts make everything better. i have a bag in my freezer and bring out a handful for special occasions like this.

5 from 2 votes

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Olive Pasta with Kumquat Vinaigrette

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

This olive pasta with kumquat vinaigrette is a tasty make-ahead pasta salad. Just toss in the arugula and hazelnuts at the last minute, and you're good to go!

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Fusion

Keyword: arugula, autumn, cheese, citrus, egg-free, entree, fall, garlic, hazelnuts, kumquat, lemon curd, lunch, main course, make-ahead, olive oil, olives, onion, parmesan, parmigiano reggiano, pasta, preserved lemon, side dish, vegetarian

Servings: 8 people

Calories: 323 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb pasta
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 T lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 2 T minced preserved kumquats
• 7 oz arugula
• 3/4 cup spanish manzanilla olives thinly sliced
• 1 cup shaved parmesan or 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1/2 cup toasted hazelnuts chopped

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions, until the pasta is done to al dente. Drain.
2. In a medium skillet over medium heat, heat some oil. Add the onion and a big pinch of salt. Saute until the onion is translucent, then add the garlic. Saute until the garlic is fragrant.
3. Whisk the oil, lemon juice, lemon zest and kumquats together. Toss in everything else and serve warm.

Recipe Notes

Don’t have preserved kumquats? You can sub in preserved lemon.