Valerie Bertinelli’s Perfect Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

Valerie Bertinelli, the actress and television personality known for her work on One Day at a Time and the Food Network, has become a regular on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she regularly serves as an expert in all things fun and delicious. On a recent visit to the show, Bertinelli shared her recipe for Ratatouille Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, and we fell in love at first sight.

This refreshing summer salad is absolutely packed with veggies, including roasted eggplant, zucchini, squash, shallots and mushrooms. There’s also farfalle, a simple dressing, some feta, tomato and basil. 

To make this one at home, you’ll start by chopping and roasting eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, mushrooms and shallots—just be sure to keep the pieces roughly the same size. Bertinelli roasts her veggies at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes. While the veggies are cooking, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil, whole grain mustard, honey and some finely chopped shallots in a bowl and whisk to make the dressing. Then combine the veggies with the cooked and drained pasta and the balsamic dressing. Top everything off with feta, chopped basil and some halved cherry tomatoes.

Enjoy this refreshing summer pasta salad right away or serve it chilled later. Its mellow acidity is a good balance and allows all the flavors to come through. After a taste, Drew was immediately won over. “This is incredible,” she said after complimenting the subtle sweetness of the balsamic dressing.

Bertinelli sometimes serves this salad with a bed of romaine lettuce, and you can find that version of her recipe on her personal website.

Rich in healthy fats and anti-inflammatory ingredients, Barrymore and Bertinelli touted this bright, flavorful pasta salad as a fun way to incorporate the Mediterranean diet into your routine. The Mediterranean diet is often considered the healthiest diet for most people because of its emphasis on heart-healthy foods. But what we love most about it is just how balanced, customizable and easy to follow it can be. 

Olive oil is one of the key ingredients when cooking within the Mediterranean diet, and it’s a big part of Bertinelli’s simple salad dressing for this recipe. Barrymore volunteered that her dad, Hollywood royal John Drew Barrymore, used to moisturize with olive oil every day, so Drew and Valerie gave it a try, too. Surprisingly, Bertinelli also adds some olive oil to her cooking water when making the farfalle because the oil clings to the pasta and adds a little extra flavor.

To make this indulgent but nutritious meal even healthier, you can sub in some whole-wheat pasta or chickpea pasta for a more satisfying bite. If you omit the feta, you could make this dish vegan—but you may want to add a little salt during the roasting stage.

Whether you follow Bertinelli’s recipe by the book or make it your own, this summer pasta salad is perfect for an easy lunch or to bring along as a picnic or barbecue side.