Mediterranean Pasta Salad Olives (Printable Version)
Vibrant pasta with olives, crisp vegetables, herbs, and zesty vinaigrette offers a refreshing Mediterranean flavor.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 10 ounces short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small cucumber, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
→ Olives & Cheese
06 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
07 - 1/2 cup green olives, pitted and halved
08 - 3.5 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
→ Fresh Herbs
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
→ Vinaigrette
11 - 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, green olives, feta cheese, parsley, and basil.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour to let the flavors meld together.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The vinaigrette soaks into the pasta as it sits, making every bite more flavorful than the last
- It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after a road trip or picnic
02 -
- Rinse pasta thoroughly until completely cold or it will continue cooking and become mushy
- Let the salad rest for at least 30 minutes before serving so flavors can mingle
03 -
- Use gluten-free pasta without any other changes
- Cube the feta smaller if you want it distributed throughout every bite