This Greek Pasta Salad recipe is easy to prepare and makes a refereshing make-ahead meal! It will be a hit at your next potluck, and can be made with any variety of pasta that you enjoy.
8ouncesrotini pasta(use gluten-free noodles, if needed)
1/2red onion, chopped
1red bell pepper, chopped
1cucumber, chopped
1pintcherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1/3cupsliced black olives(optional)
1/2cupfreshly chopped parsley(optional)
2ouncescrumbled feta cheese(optional; about 1/2 cup)
Greek Salad Dressing
2tablespoonsolive oil
3tablespoonsred wine vinegar
1garlic clove, minced
1teaspoonspicy brown mustard
1teaspoondried oregano
1teaspoonfine sea salt
1/4 teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Prepare the pasta according to the package directions.
While the pasta is cooking, you can stir together the Greek dressing ingredients in the bottom of a large bowl.
As you chop the vegetables, add them to the bowl of dressing and give it a stir. I like to start with the red onion, so it will start to marinate in the dressing right away. Then add in the chopped bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and parsley, if using.
When the pasta is done cooking, drain the noodles, then add them to the bowl of vegetables and dressing. Toss well to coat, then season with extra salt, if needed. (I sometimes add an extra 1/2 teaspoon.) Add in the feta cheese, if you'd like to, and serve right away, or let it chill in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Or add a spoonful of prepared hummus, to add creaminess for a vegan version.
You can store pasta salad in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Keep in mind that the flavor will mellow as it chills, so you may need to adjust the seasoning when you serve it cold. Add in an extra splash of vinegar, lemon juice, or salt to brighten the flavor again.
Notes
Nutrition information is for 1/4 of this recipe. This is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee.I used Banza brand chickpea pasta in these photos, which is naturally gluten-free, but you can use brown rice or whole wheat pasta with similar results. If you want to swap the veggies in this recipe, or leave something out, feel free! It's very flexible.