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Fresh Greek Pasta Salad with Feta and Olives

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A crisp, tangy, and flavorful Greek-inspired pasta salad featuring elbow macaroni, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and a bright lemon-oregano dressing. Perfect for summer sides and easy to prepare in under 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni or small pasta shapes (penne or rotini also work well)
  • Salt (for pasta water)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 medium cucumber, diced
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: fresh parsley or dill, chopped
  • Optional: red pepper flakes
  • Optional: capers

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool. Set aside to drain completely for about 10 minutes.
  2. While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, thinly slice red onion, and pit and halve kalamata olives. Chop fresh herbs if using.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, dried oregano, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped vegetables, and olives. Pour the dressing over and toss gently but thoroughly to coat evenly.
  5. Crumble feta cheese over the salad and fold in carefully to keep some chunks intact. Toss in fresh herbs if using.
  6. Chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Toss gently again and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

Rinsing pasta after cooking prevents mushiness and clumping. Add feta cheese at the end and fold gently to maintain texture. Letting the salad chill for at least 30 minutes allows flavors to meld. Use fresh, firm vegetables to avoid sogginess. Dressing can be kept separate and added just before serving to keep pasta from absorbing too much liquid.

Nutrition

Keywords: Greek pasta salad, feta cheese, kalamata olives, summer side dish, easy pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, healthy pasta salad

Find it online: https://blixfood.com/fresh-greek-pasta-salad-with-feta-and-olives-easy-recipe-for-perfect-summer-sides/