Greek Pasta Salad
Get ready to transport your taste buds to the sun-kissed hills of Greece with this refreshing and savory Greek Pasta Salad! This classic recipe combines the creamiest feta cheese, the crunchiest cucumbers, the juiciest tomatoes, and the most tender pasta, all perfectly balanced with a zesty Greek vinaigrette.
Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cook Time: 8-10 minutes (for pasta)
Total Time: 23-30 minutes
Ingredients:
8 ounces (226g) short-cut pasta, such as bow-tie, fusilli, or penne
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
3 small tomatoes, chopped, 1 ¼ cups
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 ¼ cups Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
4-8 ounces (226g) feta cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes
4 pepperoncini peppers, thinly sliced, optional
SALAD DRESSING
1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons (30ml) brine from jar of pepperoncini
peppers or use fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons (30ml) brine from feta, optional, see tips
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
Directions
Place the sliced onion in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Set the bowl aside for 10 minutes so that the raw flavor of the onion calms a little. Drain and rinse the onions before adding them to the salad.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, 6 to 10 minutes (check the package for recommended cook time). Drain and rinse well under cold water.
While the pasta cooks, in the bottom of a large bowl, make the dressing. Whisk the olive oil, red wine vinegar, pepperoncini brine, feta brine, oregano, salt, and black pepper until well blended.
Add the drained and rinsed pasta to the dressing and mix well.
Stir in the drained and rinsed red onion, tomatoes, bell pepper, olives, feta cheese, and sliced pepperoncini peppers.
Taste for seasoning and adjust with salt and pepper as needed. Serve or, for the best results, cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 5 days.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
Calories: 350-400
Protein: 15-20g
Fat: 20-25g
Saturated Fat: 5-7g
Carbohydrates: 25-30g
Fiber: 4-5g
Sugar: 5-7g