Description
A refreshing and vibrant Mediterranean Pasta Salad featuring fusilli pasta tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, tangy Kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese, all dressed in a light lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. Perfect as a light lunch or a flavorful side dish, this salad is easy to prepare, served chilled, and packed with Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 oz fusilli pasta
Vegetables & Olives
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Cheese
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fusilli pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta is cooking or cooling, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely chop the red onion, and halve the Kalamata olives for evenly sized pieces and enhanced flavor integration.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well combined to create a light and zesty dressing that complements the salad ingredients.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and chopped fresh parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly without bruising the vegetables.
- Chill Before Serving: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and to serve it refreshingly cold.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need the dish to be gluten free.
- You can substitute lemon juice with red wine vinegar for a slightly different tang.
- This salad is best served chilled but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Add fresh herbs like oregano or basil for a more pronounced Mediterranean flavor.
- Be careful not to overdress the salad to prevent sogginess; add dressing gradually as needed.
