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Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe with Feta and Kalamata Olives for Perfect Summer Meals

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A fresh and simple Greek pasta salad featuring tender pasta, crisp veggies, tangy feta, and briny Kalamata olives tossed in a lemony vinaigrette. Perfect for summer meals, picnics, and quick lunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces short pasta (rotini, penne, or farfalle)
  • 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese (firm, block-style)
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • 1 small red onion, finely sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 ounces of pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 9-11 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down. Drain well to avoid soggy salad.
  3. While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, thinly slice red onion, chop parsley, and halve Kalamata olives.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic (if using), salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  5. In a large bowl, combine warm pasta, prepared veggies, olives, and crumbled feta. Pour dressing over and gently toss to combine, allowing flavors to meld.
  6. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Stir gently and add extra parsley if desired.

Notes

Do not overcook pasta; al dente texture is key. Rinse pasta under cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping. Toss pasta while still warm to help dressing absorb better. Crumble feta last and fold gently to keep texture intact. Add salt sparingly due to salty feta and olives. Salad holds well in fridge for 2-3 days; stir before serving and add splash of olive oil or lemon juice if dry. Customize with proteins or seasonal veggies as desired.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek pasta salad, feta, Kalamata olives, summer salad, easy pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, quick salad recipe

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