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pasta salad

Quick Pasta Salad with Summer Veggies

This vibrant, quick pasta salad with summer veggies is colorful, easy, and full of crunch. Perfect for busy weeknights, potlucks, or meal prep, this refreshing cold pasta dish transforms simple ingredients into a flavor-packed meal that's light and nutritious.
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Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: Pasta Salad, Summer Recipe, Cold Pasta, Vegetable Pasta, Quick Meal
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Cooling Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 320kcal

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Colander
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Small Bowl (for dressing)
  • Cutting Board
  • Chef's Knife

Ingredients

Pasta and Vegetables

  • 12 oz short pasta rotini, farfalle, or penne
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 medium cucumber diced
  • 1 bell pepper red or yellow, chopped
  • 1/2 red onion thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes depending on the variety. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.
  • While pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Cut cherry tomatoes in half, dice cucumber, chop bell pepper, thinly slice red onion, and halve the kalamata olives.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
  • In a large serving bowl, combine the cooled pasta with all prepared vegetables. Pour the dressing over everything and gently toss until evenly coated.
  • Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and freshly chopped basil. For best results, allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together.

Notes

For best results, keep pasta slightly firmer as it will continue to absorb moisture from the dressing.
This pasta salad maintains peak freshness for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For meal prep, consider keeping the dressing separate until ready to serve to extend shelf life by an additional 2 days.
Cold foods require more seasoning than hot dishes to achieve the same flavor impact, so don't be afraid to season generously.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 380mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 820IU | Vitamin C: 45mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2.5mg
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