Description
This Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing is a colorful, refreshing, and versatile dish packed with tender rotini pasta, crisp vegetables, briny olives, and tangy feta, all tossed in a bold homemade Italian vinaigrette. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, quick lunches, or a light dinner, and gets even more delicious after chilling.
Ingredients
12 oz rotini pasta
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, sliced into half-moons
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Let cool completely.
2. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Set aside.
3. Chop cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and parsley. Pit and halve the olives if not already prepared.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, vegetables, olives, and half of the crumbled feta.
5. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat everything evenly.
6. Chill for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
7. Before serving, give the salad a final toss, add remaining feta, and adjust seasoning if needed.
Notes
Pasta salad tastes even better after chilling for a few hours. If it seems dry after storage, freshen it with a splash of olive oil or extra dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish or Light Main
- Method: No-cook (except boiling pasta)
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 12mg
Keywords: pasta salad, Italian dressing, picnic, make-ahead, vegetarian