Garden Shell Salad

Brighten up your table with this vibrant and flavorful Garden Shell Salad, a refreshing pasta salad bursting with fresh vegetables and Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Tender shell pasta is tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, crunchy red bell pepper, tangy red onion, and briny black olives, all brought together by a zesty homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and aromatic oregano. The addition of crumbled feta cheese adds a creamy, salty bite that complements the medley of garden-fresh ingredients. Perfect as a chilled side dish for summer barbecues or a light, wholesome main course, this easy-to-make salad comes together in just 25 minutes and serves up a delightful combination of textures and tastes that will leave everyone reaching for seconds.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz medium shell pasta
• 1.5 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cups black olives (sliced)
• 0.25 cups fresh parsley (chopped)
• 0.25 cups olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 cups feta cheese (crumbled)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the shell pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, chop the cherry tomatoes in halves, dice the cucumber into small chunks, and chop the red bell pepper into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion and roughly chop the fresh parsley.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled shell pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and parsley.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables in the mixing bowl. Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.

Step 6

Add the crumbled feta cheese to the salad and lightly toss again to incorporate.

Step 7

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

Step 8

Serve chilled as a refreshing side dish or a light main course.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1571.3 grams (1571.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2453

Total Fat 110.50g	142%
Saturated Fat 32.00g	160%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.40g
Cholesterol 107mg	36%
Sodium 3521mg	153%
Total Carbohydrate 304.80g	111%
Dietary Fiber 25.70g	92%
Total Sugars 35.00g
Protein 71.10g	142%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1024mg	79%
Iron 15mg	83%
Potassium 3020mg	64%

*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: 39.8%

Protein: 11.4%

Carbs: 48.8%