Mediterranean Pasta Salad

This delicious Mediterranean Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh flavors and it’s quick and easy to make! It’s the perfect side dish to throw together for your next potluck or family get-together. You can easily add all of your favorite vegetables or herbs to really make it your own. The light, lemony dressing pulls it all together to create the perfect side dish….

Any pasta would work in this Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe but I chose bow-tie pasta {Farfalle} because it is flat, I didn’t want to battle round pasta rolling around the plate, LOL.

How to make Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Feta:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions,  mine took 13 minutes.

Drain the pasta in a large colander, then run under cold water until no longer hot. Pour the pasta into a large bowl.

Add the zucchini, tomatoes, olives, red onion, parsley, salt & pepper to the pasta.

Whisk the dressing ingredients together…..

then pour over the vegetables and pasta…..

Toss to combine. Add the feta cheese {or cheese of your choice} and gently stir together…..

Serve immediately with additional cheese and black pepper…..

Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Notes:

• This bow-tie pasta has a really good pasta to vegetable ratio, and the dressing sticks to it perfectly.
• Some other delicious additions include, artichoke hearts, capers, cucumber.
• Substitute sun-dried tomatoes during the winter, or if grape tomatoes are not available.
• Kalmata olives would be a great substitute for the black olives, if desired.
• If you do not like feta cheese, substitute mozzarella pearls, or chunks of your favorite cheese.
• The cooking time for the pasta has not been included since each type of pasta is different.

I used Bulgarian goat milk cheese because I am lactose intolerant. Most goat cheeses made in the U.S. are actually made with cow’s milk, so check your labels. If you do not like the flavor of lamb, you may not like goat cheese. Taste it before you toss it into your salad, it has a very distinct flavor and you don’t want to find out you don’t like it after it is already mixed in! 😉

Some other pasta salads for you to try:

Antipasto Salad

My original Italian Pasta Salad

Healthy Italian Pasta Salad

Hawaiian Potato Salad – one of my all-time favorites! Yes, it contains pasta and potatoes.

What is your favorite side dish? As you can see I am partial to pasta salads. 🙂

Enjoy!!

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Prep Time

15 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

This delicious Mediterranean Pasta Salad is loaded with fresh flavors and it's quick and easy to make! It's the perfect side dish to throw together for your next potluck or family get-together.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: pasta, side dish, Mediterranean

Servings: 12 Servings

Calories: 238 kcal

Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

Vinaigrette Dressing

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar (any vinegar will work)
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 large garlic clove (pressed or finely minced)
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano (1 Tablespoon of fresh)
• black pepper & sea salt (to taste)

Pasta Salad

• 16 ounce box pasta (I used bow-tie/farfalle)
• 1 cup zucchini (cut into thin, sliced quarters)
• 1 cup grape tomatoes (cut in half)
• 2/3 cup black olives (cut in half)
• 1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced)
• 3 Tablespoons Italian parsley (chopped)
• 4 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, mine took 13 minutes.
2. Drain the pasta in a large colander, then run under cold water until no longer hot. Pour the pasta into a large bowl.
3. Add the zucchini, tomatoes, olives, red onion, parsley, salt & pepper to the pasta.

4. Whisk the dressing ingredients together then pour over the vegetables and pasta. Toss to combine.

5. Add the feta cheese {or cheese of your choice} and gently stir together.

6. Serve immediately with additional cheese and black pepper.

Recipe Notes

• This bow-tie pasta has a really good pasta to vegetable ratio, and the dressing sticks to it perfectly.
• Some other delicious additions include, artichoke hearts, capers, cucumber.
• Substitute sun-dried tomatoes during the winter, or if grape tomatoes are not available.
• Kalmata olives would be a great substitute for the black olives, if desired.
• If you do not like feta cheese, substitute mozzarella pearls, or chunks of your favorite cheese.
• The cooking time for the pasta has not been included since each type of pasta is different.

Nutrition Facts

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 238 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 9g 14%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 8mg 3%

Sodium 227mg 9%

Potassium 169mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 30g 10%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 2g

Protein 6g 12%

Vitamin A 5.7%

Vitamin C 7.1%

Calcium 7%

Iron 5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe will be partying at these link parties!