Description
A delightful and versatile pasta salad perfect for summer picnics and family gatherings, bursting with fresh flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (e.g., rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Start by boiling water in a large pot. Add a pinch of salt and toss in the pasta. Cook according to package instructions, around 8-10 minutes for al dente.
- Drain and cool: Once cooked, drain the pasta in a colander and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let it drain completely.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and feta cheese together gently.
- Add dressing: Drizzle the Italian dressing over the salad, starting with a smaller amount and tossing to coat all ingredients.
- Season: Taste and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Garnish: Sprinkle fresh parsley on top for added color.
- Chill: Cover or transfer to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
For the best flavor, chill before serving. Adjust dressing to taste, and feel free to switch up ingredients based on personal preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: pasta salad, summer recipe, Italian dressing