Pasta Salad Ala Buggy
Bright, colorful, and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors, Pasta Salad Ala Buggy is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Featuring tender penne pasta, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, vibrant red bell pepper, and tangy Kalamata olives, this recipe is a refreshing medley of textures and tastes. Crumbled feta cheese adds a creamy finish, while a zesty homemade dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and a touch of honey ties everything together beautifully. For an extra protein boost, optional chunks of cooked chicken make this a satisfying main dish. Ready in just 30 minutes, this versatile pasta salad can be served chilled as a side dish at picnics, potlucks, or weeknight dinners. Fresh parsley completes each bite with a pop of herbaceous flavor, making this dish your go-to for healthier, flavorful meals.
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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
- 100 grams Kalamata olives, pitted
- 100 grams Feta cheese, crumbled
- 150 grams Cooked chicken breast (optional)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped
- 4 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Honey
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool it down quickly, then set aside.
While the pasta is cooking, wash and prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, red bell pepper, and red onion into bite-sized pieces.
In a large salad bowl, combine the cooked and cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
If using the optional cooked chicken breast, chop it into small cubes and add it to the salad bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.
Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything together until evenly coated.
Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the salad and give it one final toss.
Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt or lemon juice if necessary.
Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.
Serve chilled and enjoy your Pasta Salad Ala Buggy as a refreshing side or light main dish!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2394 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 104.0 g | 133% | |
| Saturated Fat | 26.4 g | 132% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 5.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 211 mg | 70% | |
| Sodium | 4088 mg | 178% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 267.1 g | 97% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 21.7 g | 78% | |
| Total Sugars | 23.8 g | ||
| Protein | 104.8 g | 210% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 657 mg | 51% | |
| Iron | 17.7 mg | 98% | |
| Potassium | 2344 mg | 50% | |
*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.
