Mediterranean Pasta with Feta, Tomatoes, and Olives Recipe
A fresh and flavorful Mediterranean Pasta salad featuring al dente pasta tossed with vibrant cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, tangy kalamata olives, sharp red onion, and creamy feta cheese. Enhanced with fresh herbs and a zesty olive oil and lemon dressing, this dish is perfect as a light meal or a side dish for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb pasta (penne, rotini, or farfalle)
Vegetables & Cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup diced cucumbers
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, halved and pitted
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Herbs
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tbsp torn fresh basil
Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Prepare Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumbers, thinly slice the red onion, and halve and pit the kalamata olives to get all the fresh ingredients ready for the salad.
- Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined to create a flavorful dressing.
- Toss Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta and the prepared vegetables. Pour in the dressing and toss thoroughly to ensure every piece is well coated with the dressing.
- Add Cheese and Herbs: Add the crumbled feta cheese, chopped parsley, and torn fresh basil into the salad. Gently mix them in to avoid breaking up the feta too much, preserving its texture.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together and enhance the taste.
Notes
- Use your favorite pasta shape such as penne, rotini, or farfalle for the best texture and presentation.
- For a tangier dressing, substitute the vinegar with fresh lemon juice or vice versa.
- To keep the salad fresh longer, add the feta cheese right before serving.
- This salad can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated to deepen the flavors.
- Feel free to add extra veggies like bell peppers or artichokes for more variety.
Keywords: Mediterranean pasta salad, feta cheese pasta, healthy pasta salad, summer salad, vegetarian pasta dish