Light and Zesty Pasta Salad
Bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors, this Light and Zesty Pasta Salad is the perfect combination of wholesome ingredients and a tangy homemade dressing. Featuring tender penne pasta, crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, vibrant red bell pepper, and a hint of red onion, this dish is elevated with the creamy saltiness of crumbled feta cheese and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. The zesty lemon-Dijon dressing, made with extra virgin olive oil and minced garlic, ties everything together with a refreshing kick. Ready in just 25 minutes, this chilled pasta salad makes an ideal side dish for summer gatherings, a light lunch, or a make-ahead meal for any season. Easy, versatile, and full of flavor, it’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams Penne pasta
- 200 grams Cherry tomatoes
- 1 medium Cucumber
- 1 medium Red bell pepper
- 0.5 medium Red onion
- 30 grams Fresh parsley
- 100 grams Feta cheese, crumbled
- 60 milliliters Extra virgin olive oil
- 30 milliliters Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 large Garlic clove, minced
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to cool.
While the pasta is cooling, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper into small cubes, and thinly slice the red onion.
Chop the fresh parsley finely, reserving a few sprigs for garnish if desired.
In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. This will be the zesty dressing.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat evenly.
Add the crumbled feta cheese and gently fold it into the mixture. Be careful not to break it up too much.
Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
Cover and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
Serve chilled or at room temperature, garnished with extra parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
353 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 21.1 g | 27% | |
| Saturated Fat | 6.1 g | 30% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 22 mg | 7% | |
| Sodium | 568 mg | 25% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 32.1 g | 12% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 3.3 g | 12% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.3 g | ||
| Protein | 9.4 g | 19% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 163 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 2.2 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 387 mg | 8% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
