Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Mediterranean Pasta Salad, a delicious and fresh pasta salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh herbs, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a homemade dressing. Tossed together and served as a main or side dish. Perfect for potlucks and BBQs.
Servings: 6
Calories: 533kcal
Ingredients
- 16 oz cellentani pasta or short pasta of choice
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cucumber diced
- 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons fresh mint minced
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Sugar optional
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions in salted water. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, feta cheese, and parsley.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon, oregano, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss until everything is well coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
Notes
Use any short style pasta. Pasta with twists or ridges will hold the dressing better for a better overall flavor.
Cook pasta to al dente for best results.
Toss the pasta with a little salted olive oil after rinsing to prevent it from sticking together and increase flavor. This is optional, but a good rule of thumb if you can't dress it right away.
Make pasta ahead if desired, should be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To refresh pasta salad, toss with a little Olive Oil, and lemon juice or a Tbs of red wine vinegar, and stir well.
For a slightly sweeter dressing, add a little sugar.
Another great option is to drizzle a little aged balsamic over the top of the pasta salad before serving.
Another great option is to drizzle a little aged balsamic over the top of the pasta salad before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 533kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 563mg | Potassium: 413mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 699IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 2mg