Description
This Easy Italian Pasta Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and flavorful dish perfect for quick lunches, potlucks, or summer gatherings. Featuring tricolor rotini pasta mixed with crisp cucumber, juicy tomatoes, tangy feta cheese, savory black olives, and a zesty Italian dressing, this salad is refreshing and simple to prepare in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 box (12 oz) tricolor rotini pasta
Vegetables
- 1 cup chopped cucumber (peeled and seeded, about 1 cucumber)
- 1 cup halved cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1 can (2.25 oz) sliced black olives, drained
- 1/2 to 1 cup Italian salad dressing (to taste)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tricolor rotini pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the noodles.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta is cooking, peel and seed the cucumber, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry or grape tomatoes and finely dice the red onion for a nice balance of flavors and textures.
- Mix the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the chopped cucumber, halved tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, sliced black olives, and diced red onion to evenly distribute all ingredients.
- Add the Dressing: Pour 1/2 cup of Italian salad dressing over the salad, then toss everything thoroughly to coat. Taste the salad and add up to an additional 1/2 cup of dressing gradually, tossing after each addition, until you achieve your desired flavor and consistency.
- Chill and Serve: Although the salad can be served immediately, refrigerate it for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. Before serving, stir the salad and add a little more dressing if needed, as the pasta will absorb some of the dressing while chilling.
Notes
- Rinsing the pasta after cooking stops the cooking process and prevents it from becoming mushy.
- Chilling the salad for 1-2 hours enhances the flavors as they blend together.
- Adjust the amount of Italian dressing to suit your taste preference; start with less and add more gradually.
- You can customize this salad by adding other ingredients like bell peppers, artichoke hearts, or fresh herbs.
- Serve this salad chilled for best refreshing flavor and texture.
