California Pasta Salad is a delicious and refreshing dish that's perfect for warm weather or as a side for any meal. Packed with colorful veggies, tender pasta, and a light dressing, it's a crowd-pleaser at parties, barbecues, and picnics. This vibrant salad is not only tasty but also easy to make and full of healthy ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces of pasta (such as rotini or bowtie)

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1 cucumber, diced

• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped

• 1/2 cup sweet corn (fresh or frozen)

• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup black olives, sliced

• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.

2. While the pasta is cooling, prepare the vegetables: halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.

3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, corn, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to create the dressing.

5. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture, and toss gently to combine.

6. Garnish with fresh parsley.

7. Refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Nutrients (per serving, approximate):

• Calories: 220 kcal

• Protein: 5g

• Carbohydrates: 28g

• Fat: 10g

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugars: 3g