Description
This Greek Pasta Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish perfect for warm days or as a hearty side. Featuring rotini pasta tossed with a zesty homemade dressing, crisp vegetables, olives, and creamy cubes of feta cheese, this salad combines Mediterranean flavors with easy preparation in just 30 minutes. Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or a quick lunch, this salad delivers a delightful blend of textures and tastes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 10 oz. rotini pasta
Vegetables & Cheese
- 8 oz. block Feta cheese (cut into cubes)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes (halved)
- 1 English cucumber (diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- ½ cup Kalamata olives (sliced and drained)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
Dressing
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp. honey (optional)
- 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp. dried oregano
- ¼ tsp. dried parsley
- ¼ tsp. dried basil
- 1 tsp. salt (plus more to taste)
- â…› tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta. Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Once cooked, rinse the pasta under cool running water to stop cooking and cool it down. Drain well and transfer it to a large mixing bowl.
- Prepare dressing. Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey (if using), minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, parsley, basil, salt, and black pepper in a mason jar or blender.
- Emulsify dressing. Shake the mason jar vigorously or blend the ingredients for 10-20 seconds until the dressing is well emulsified and combined.
- Toss pasta with dressing. Pour the dressing over the cooled pasta in the large bowl and toss thoroughly so the pasta is evenly coated.
- Add vegetables and cheese. Add the cubed feta cheese, halved grape tomatoes, diced English cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced Kalamata olives, and thinly sliced red onion to the dressed pasta. Add more salt to taste if desired.
- Combine salad. Gently toss all ingredients until just combined and the salad is uniformly mixed without breaking up the feta cubes.
- Serve or refrigerate. Serve the Greek Pasta Salad immediately or cover and refrigerate for a few hours to let the flavors meld and enjoy chilled.
Notes
- For best flavor, make the salad a few hours ahead and chill before serving.
- Honey in the dressing is optional and can be omitted for a less sweet taste.
- This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like dill or mint for additional freshness.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free if needed.
