Description
A vibrant and refreshing pasta salad featuring a variety of fresh vegetables and a delicious Italian dressing, perfect for summer gatherings or a quick lunch.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz pasta (such as rotini or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped (any color)
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup olives (black or green), sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Fresh herbs (basil or parsley), Grilled chicken or shrimp for added protein, Avocado for creaminess
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and cool under cold water.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, olives, and feta cheese.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the Italian dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all ingredients.
- Season to Taste: Sprinkle with salt and pepper as desired.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Serve chilled for maximum freshness.
Notes
Avoid overmixing to keep the pasta intact. Taste the dressing before adding salt; it may already contain enough.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 0mg