Greek Pasta Salad Mediterranean Style (Printable View)
Vibrant Mediterranean-style pasta with crisp vegetables, tangy feta, and zesty dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 8 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
→ Cheese
07 - 5 oz feta cheese, cubed or crumbled
→ Dressing
08 - 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
10 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Herbs & Garnish
13 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley or dill, chopped (optional)
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, diced green bell pepper, and halved Kalamata olives.
03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl with the prepared vegetables. Toss gently to mix evenly.
04 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
05 - Pour dressing over pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Gently fold in feta cheese and fresh herbs (if using) taking care not to break up the cheese too much.
07 - Refrigerate salad for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The flavors actually get better after a day in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep
- Its one of those rare dishes that works just as well at a fancy dinner party as it does for a casual weekday lunch
02 -
- Do not skip chilling the salad. Those 15 minutes make an enormous difference in how the flavors meld together.
- Add the feta right before serving if you are making this ahead. It can get a bit mushy if it sits too long in the dressing.
03 -
- Reserve a small handful of parsley or dill to garnish the top right before serving. It makes such a difference in how fresh and inviting it looks.
- Taste the pasta salad after chilling and adjust the seasonings. Cold food needs slightly more salt and acid to taste properly seasoned.