Fabulous Pasta Salad

Bursting with vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Fabulous Pasta Salad is a fresh and tangy side dish perfect for any occasion. Tender rotini pasta is tossed with crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy red bell peppers, and briny black olives, all brought together by a zesty homemade dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Topped with creamy crumbled feta cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley, this colorful pasta salad is as visually appealing as it is delicious. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or meal prep, this easy-to-make dish is ready in just 30 minutes and can be served chilled or at room temperature. Light, refreshing, and packed with wholesome ingredients, this recipe will be your go-to for a crowd-pleasing summer favorite!

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz rotini pasta
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 medium cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup black olives, sliced
• 0.75 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 0.5 tsp dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to cool it down. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and set them aside in a large mixing bowl.

Step 3

Add the sliced black olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped parsley to the bowl with the vegetables.

Step 4

In a small mixing bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk or shake well to make the dressing.

Step 5

Add the cooled pasta to the large mixing bowl with the vegetables and toss to combine.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture, and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 7

Cover the pasta salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 8

Before serving, give the pasta salad a final toss and adjust seasoning with more salt or pepper, if needed.

Step 9

Serve chilled or at room temperature and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1422.2 grams (1422.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2636

Total Fat 123.50g	158%
Saturated Fat 37.50g	188%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.10g
Cholesterol 150mg	50%
Sodium 4155mg	181%
Total Carbohydrate 309.30g	112%
Dietary Fiber 25.80g	92%
Total Sugars 32.50g
Protein 75.80g	152%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1198mg	92%
Iron 21mg	119%
Potassium 2704mg	58%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 41.9%

Protein: 11.4%

Carbs: 46.7%