Description
Greek Pasta Salad is a quick, refreshing, and flavorful dish combining al dente pasta with crisp vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and a zesty Mediterranean dressing. Perfect as a light main course or side dish, it delivers vibrant colors and a nutritious blend of fiber, vitamins, and healthy fats, making it ideal for busy days, picnics, or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz rotini or penne pasta
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, chop cucumbers, halve cherry tomatoes, slice red onion thinly, and pit or slice Kalamata olives. Keep everything bite-sized for even distribution.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until emulsified and fragrant.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta, chopped vegetables, and crumbled feta cheese. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly.
- Chill and Serve: Cover the salad and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature for best taste.
Notes
- Don’t overcook pasta to maintain texture and prevent mushiness.
- Drain and rinse pasta thoroughly to keep the salad crisp and light.
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best dressing flavor.
- Allow the salad to chill to enhance flavor melding.
- Adjust seasoning (salt, pepper, lemon) just before serving to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cooking (boiling pasta only)
- Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Greek pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, easy pasta salad, feta cheese salad, healthy pasta recipes