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Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Feta and Olives

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A quick, fresh, and flavorful Greek pasta salad featuring tangy feta, briny olives, crisp veggies, and a bright lemon-oregano dressing. Perfect for light summer meals, picnics, and casual get-togethers.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
  • 6 oz block feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 12 oz rotini or penne pasta and cook according to package instructions (8-10 minutes) until al dente. Drain in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. Set aside to drain completely.
  2. While the pasta cooks, dice 1 medium cucumber, halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes, thinly slice 1/4 cup red onion, and chop 1/4 cup fresh parsley.
  3. In a small jar or bowl, combine 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional), salt, and pepper. Shake vigorously or whisk until emulsified and slightly thickened.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat evenly without crushing ingredients.
  5. Crumble 6 oz feta cheese over the top and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Toss gently once more, leaving some large feta chunks for texture.
  6. Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors marry. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

Rinse pasta under cold water to stop cooking and prevent mushiness. Use sturdy pasta shapes like rotini or penne to hold dressing well. Chill salad at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Adjust salt and pepper before serving, especially if feta or olives are salty. Can be made gluten-free with gluten-free pasta and vegan by substituting feta with plant-based cheese or omitting it.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek pasta salad, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, summer salad, easy pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/easy-greek-pasta-salad-with-feta-and-olives-recipe-for-perfect-summer-meals/