Summer Pasta Greek Olives Feta (Printable)

Bright Greek flavors with pasta, olives, feta. Ideal for summer meals and vegetarian side dishes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 ounces short pasta such as penne, fusilli, or farfalle
02 - Salt for boiling pasta water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 7 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small red onion, finely sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Greek Flavors

07 - 3.5 ounces Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
08 - 4.25 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
09 - 2 tablespoons capers, optional

→ Dressing

10 - 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Fresh Herbs

16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, optional

# Directions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente as per package directions. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water to cool rapidly. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, finely sliced red onion, diced red bell pepper, Kalamata olives, and capers if desired.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, finely minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Add cooled pasta to the vegetable mixture. Pour dressing over the contents and toss until well integrated.
05 - Gently fold in crumbled feta cheese, chopped fresh parsley, and chopped fresh dill if using. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The dressing is so punchy you’ll want to dip everything in it.
  • This salad stays crisp even after chilling for hours, making it perfect for prepping ahead.
02 -
  • Letting the pasta cool completely prevents it from soaking up too much dressing and turning mushy.
  • Mixing in the feta and herbs after the dressing keeps their flavor bright and texture fresh.
03 -
  • Don’t overcook pasta—a little firmness is best for soaking up dressing and holding shape.
  • Fresh herbs brighten every bite, but dried oregano grounds the flavor.
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