Greek Pasta Salad 

A vibrant and refreshing dish, Greek Pasta Salad combines al dente pasta with crisp vegetables, briny olives, and creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty homemade dressing. It's perfect as a side dish or a light main course.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 16 oz (1 lb) uncooked farfalle (bowtie) pasta

• 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

• 1½ cups English cucumber, sliced into thick rounds and quartered

• 1 large green bell pepper, diced (about 1½ cups)

• ½ cup diced red onion

• ¼ cup sliced Kalamata olives, drained

• ¼ cup sliced black olives, drained

• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley

• ⅔ cup crumbled feta cheese

For the Greek Salad Dressing:

• ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 2 teaspoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• ½ teaspoon dried basil

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farfalle pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Transfer to a large serving bowl.

2. Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta is cooking, wash and chop the grape tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, red onion, and olives. Add them to the bowl with the cooled pasta.

3. Make the Dressing: In a mason jar or small bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, lemon juice, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined.

4. Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated.

5. Add Feta and Chill: Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the salad. Cover and refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld.

Nutritional Information (per serving)

• Calories: Approximately 350 kcal

• Protein: 10g

• Carbohydrates: 45g

• Fat: 15g

• Fiber: 3g

• Sugar: 5g

• Sodium: 450mg