Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe

Fill your fork with an incredibly tasty Mediterranean Pasta Salad that combines pasta with fresh, crisp vegetables and a light vinaigrette straight from the Mediterranean! It will be a perfect addition to a summer BBQ, your work potluck or at dinner on the table.

We’re on a roll with pasta salads. ‘Tis the season! Pasta salads are the perfect dishes to bring to summer (or any-season) gatherings because they are ridiculously easy to prepare and everyone loves them. I love adding unique spins to pasta salads because the standard mayo-laden version gets a little old, am I right?

This particular version involves a Mediterranean flare. It is fresh, crunchy, zesty and totally delicious. Make this recipe for your next party and you’ll be the star of the show!

VIDEO TUTORIAL: MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD

HOW TO MAKE MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD

This perfect pasta salad is great for summer and a light healthy option for dinner!

STEP 1

Cook the pasta (preferred: 16-oz. package of Farfalle) in boiling water until al dente (according to package instructions). drain and rinse with cold water. Add to a large mixing bowl along with cucumber, tomatoes, olives, cheese and onion.

STEP 2

In a small bowl combine the vinegar, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk until combined. Pour over the contents in the bowl and toss to combine. Mix well, cover tightly and refrigerate until ready to serve.

RECIPE NOTES

• Throw in leftover rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken into the salad! This makes it more of a one-pot meal, but it’s still simple and quick without turning on your oven. Chopped salami would add amazing flavor, as well!
• Change up the pasta for a fresh spin! Try making your next salad with penne, cavatappi or even shells.
• Other complementary optional add-ins to this salad would be: sun-dried tomatoes, marinated artichokes, avocado pieces or chopped green olives would be a great addition, too.
• The balsamic vinegar is tasty mixed with the red wine vinegar. However, if you prefer to lighten the tint of the dressing, you can sub in white vinegar.
• I prefer using English cucumbers in salads because they contain fewer seeds. They also tend to be more firm and keep their shape better. They also tend to be less bitter than their counterpart. Whatever variety have on hand will work!
• Consider adding red pepper flakes for an extra bit of spice!
• Serve this salad at room temperature or chilled, just out of the fridge. Both options are delicious!

THE SCOOP ABOUT KALAMATA OLIVES

You may or not be a fan of green olives (I love them!). Kalamata olives are those big purple, meaty olives that hail from a town called Kalamata in Greece! They have a great texture and are delicious in salads and many other foods. You can just pop them in your mouth to enjoy them! They are often packed into olive oil or a wine vinegar which help them travel to us here in the US.

Kalamata olives boast some health benefits, too, which is great for finding another reason to keep them on hand. The olives offer a good fat for your body, because the mono saturated fat helps reduce your cholesterol. They also reduce your chance of a heart attack.

OTHER GREAT PASTA SALAD RECIPES

Pasta salads are the best kinds of recipes to bring to any type of gathering because they get DEVOURED. Here are a handful of other pasta salad faves!

• Best Ever Pasta Salad is my favorite pasta salad recipe of ALL TIME. It is packed full of delicious bites and it is the perfect food to bring to potlucks.
• This Italian Pasta Salad is a delicious cold salad that can be made quickly. It does not lack in flavor! It is packed with pasta, crisp veggies, fresh mozzarella, black olives and salami.
• The crunchy, wonderful zingy flavors of a taco dinner is great for potlucks and summer BBQs! Cater this Taco Ranch Pasta Salad to your liking, but make sure to chop up some tomatoes and black olives.
• Caprese Pasta Salad is a huge hit at parties! Serve this delicious dish as a side, salad or appetizer. The combination of tomatoes, Mozzarella cheese and basil is absolute perfection!
• Easy Classic Macaroni Salad is creamy, crunchy, filling and totally delicious! We’ve got hard-boiled eggs, crunchy celery and dill pickles all mixed in.
• This Mediterranean Pasta Salad will be a perfect addition to a summer BBQ. Bring it to a work potluck or put it on the dinner table.
• Spruce up your party with an Asian Pasta Salad! Packed with an irresistible sweet and salty flavor and full of colorful, crunchy vegetables.