Easy Greek Pasta Salad Recipe With Homemade Seasoning

Enjoy the refreshing essence of Greek Pasta Salad, a harmonious blend of crunchy vegetables, savoury feta cheese, and al dente pasta, all bathed in a rich, aromatic Greek dressing. This dish promises a culinary journey to the heart of Mediterranean cuisine with every bite.

Greek Pasta Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Pasta Salad:

• 16 oz uncooked farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta shape)
• 2 cups grape tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 ½ cups English cucumber, sliced thick into rounds, then quartered
• 1 large green bell pepper, diced (about 1 ½ cups)
• ⅔ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup diced red onion
• ¼ cup sliced Kalamata olives, drained
• ¼ cup sliced black olives, drained
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 cup Greek salad dressing (recipe below)

For the Greek Salad Dressing:

• ⅔ cups extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 minced garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook the Pasta: Cook 16 oz of farfalle pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water, then add it to a large serving bowl.
2. Prepare the Vegetables: Wash, chop, and add the grape tomatoes, English cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, black olives, and freshly chopped parsley to the large serving bowl with the pasta.
3. Make the Greek Salad Dressing: Combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, lemon juice, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper in a mason jar or a bowl. Shake or stir well to mix the ingredients.
4. Combine: Pour the Greek salad dressing (use about 1 cup or your desired amount) over the pasta and vegetables in the bowl. Add the crumbled feta cheese.
5. Chill: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is well coated with the dressing. Cover and place the salad in the refrigerator to chill for 1-2 hours. This allows the vegetables to soak up the dressing and flavors to meld.
6. Serve: Before serving, gently stir the salad. Serve cold.

Storage:

• This Greek Pasta Salad can be refrigerated for 3-4 days, stored in an airtight container or a bowl covered with plastic wrap. Note that the vegetables may lose their crispiness over time.

FAQs:

• Leaving the Salad Out: It can be left out at room temperature for a few hours, useful for picnics or potlucks.
• Preventing a Watery Salad: Use al dente pasta and remove seeds/pulp from tomatoes to reduce wateriness.
• Avoiding Soggy Pasta Salad: Besides cooking pasta to al dente, storing the salad does increase sogginess over time as vegetables release moisture.

Enjoy your Greek Pasta Salad!