Description
Mediterranean Pasta Delight brings zesty flavors from coastal regions, blending fresh herbs, tender vegetables, and rich olive oil into a simple yet elegant meal. Spiraling noodles embrace sun-drenched ingredients, inviting you to savor a culinary journey through Mediterranean landscapes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) fusilli pasta
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1 pint (473 milliliters) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup (30 grams) baby spinach
- ½ red onion, sliced
Cheese and Olives:
- ½ cup (75 grams) crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup (40 grams) kalamata olives, halved
Dressing and Seasonings:
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried mint
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Fill a substantial pot with generously salted water, bringing it to a vigorous boil over high heat. Carefully introduce fusilli pasta, cooking for 8-10 minutes until reaching perfect al dente texture (approximately 177 grams or ).
- Drain pasta completely in a colander, then rinse under cold water to halt cooking process. Allow pasta to cool and drain thoroughly, ensuring no excess moisture remains.
- Create a vibrant Mediterranean dressing by whisking extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, crumbled dried mint, finely minced garlic, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a spacious mixing bowl until ingredients seamlessly integrate.
- Transfer cooled pasta into the dressing, gently folding to ensure each pasta strand becomes evenly coated with the aromatic mixture.
- Incorporate freshly diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, tender baby spinach leaves, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and pitted kalamata olives into the pasta.
- Delicately toss all ingredients, ensuring uniform distribution of dressing and vegetables throughout the pasta salad.
- For optimal flavor development, refrigerate the Mediterranean pasta salad for 30 minutes before serving, allowing ingredients to meld and enhance their complementary tastes.
Notes
- Rinse pasta thoroughly to stop cooking and prevent sticking, ensuring a perfect cold pasta salad texture.
- Whisk dressing ingredients vigorously to create a smooth, well-blended Mediterranean-style vinaigrette that will coat ingredients evenly.
- Layer ingredients strategically, starting with pasta, then adding vegetables and cheese to help dressing distribute more effectively.
- Choose fresh, high-quality ingredients like ripe cherry tomatoes and crisp cucumber for maximum flavor and authentic Mediterranean taste.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature, making this versatile dish perfect for picnics, potlucks, or quick summer meals.
- Let salad rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and develop a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg