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Fresh Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad with Feta

Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad - featured image
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A fresh, flavorful Mediterranean pasta salad combining chickpeas, feta, and vibrant vegetables, perfect for summer meals and potlucks.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces small pasta shapes (fusilli, rotini, or shells)
  • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced and seeded
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped (optional)
  • Juice of 1 large lemon (about 3 tablespoons)
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and rinse briefly with cold water. Let drain completely.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  3. While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber (seeded), finely chop red onion, slice Kalamata olives, chop parsley, and oregano if using.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, drained chickpeas, chopped vegetables, herbs, and crumbled feta. Pour dressing over and toss gently until coated.
  5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Before serving, toss gently again and adjust seasoning if needed. Optionally garnish with extra parsley or a drizzle of olive oil.

Notes

Do not skip rinsing the pasta after cooking to prevent sticking and to cool it for the salad. Use block-style feta crumbled by hand for better texture. Soak red onion in cold water if you prefer a milder flavor. Toss gently to avoid crushing chickpeas and tomatoes. Chill at least 30 minutes before serving for best flavor. Add feta fresh if storing leftovers to keep texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: Mediterranean pasta salad, chickpea pasta salad, feta pasta salad, summer salad, healthy pasta salad, vegetarian pasta salad

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/fresh-mediterranean-chickpea-pasta-salad-with-feta-easy-recipe-for-perfect-summer-meals/