Greek Pasta Salad Mediterranean (Printable)

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)

# How-to Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well, then rinse under cold running water to stop cooking and cool. Set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, dice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, thinly slice red onion, dice bell pepper, and halve olives. Combine all vegetables in a large salad bowl.
03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl with the prepared vegetables. Toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over pasta and vegetables. Toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Gently fold in feta cheese and fresh herbs (if using). Take care not to break up cheese too much.
07 - Refrigerate salad for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge, making it perfect for meal prep
  • The dressing doubles as a marinade for grilled chicken or vegetables
  • You can assemble everything in under 30 minutes with ingredients you probably already have
02 -
  • Pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so make extra if serving later
  • Adding feta last prevents it from turning the dressing cloudy
  • The salad needs at least 15 minutes of chilling time for the magic to happen
03 -
  • Salt your pasta water generously since the pasta itself carries flavor
  • Use a glass jar to shake the dressing instead of whisking for better emulsification

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