Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad
Beat the heat with this vibrant and **Refreshing Cold Pasta Salad**, a quick and easy crowd-pleaser perfect for potlucks, picnics, or light lunches. Featuring tender penne pasta, crisp vegetables like cucumber, red bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes, and the briny bite of black olives and creamy feta cheese, this Mediterranean-inspired dish is both colorful and delicious. Tossed in a zesty homemade dressing of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and aromatic oregano, this recipe is bursting with fresh, tangy flavors. Ready in just 30 minutes of hands-on time, this make-ahead meal is served chilled, making it an ideal choice for warm weather gatherings or meal prep. Indulge in its bright flavors and effortless charm as you savor a taste of summer in every bite!
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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 black olives
- 100 grams feta cheese
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool the pasta quickly. Set aside.
Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to a large mixing bowl.
Peel and dice the cucumber and add to the bowl.
Remove the seeds from the red bell pepper, dice it, and add it into the bowl with tomatoes and cucumber.
Thinly slice the red onion and add it to the mixture.
Cut the black olives in halves and crumble the feta cheese. Add both to the bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.
Add the cooked pasta to the vegetable mixture and pour the dressing over the top.
Toss everything together gently until all ingredients are well combined and the pasta is evenly coated with dressing.
Chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Serve cold and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
223 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 12.5 g | 16% | |
| Saturated Fat | 3.8 g | 19% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 15 mg | 5% | |
| Sodium | 638 mg | 28% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 22.1 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 3.5 g | ||
| Protein | 6.3 g | 13% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 118 mg | 9% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 11% | |
| Potassium | 227 mg | 5% | |
*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.
