Description
This Mediterranean Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish featuring tender orecchiette pasta tossed with fresh tomatoes, colorful bell peppers, peppery arugula, crumbly feta cheese, and briny kalamata olives. Aromatic fresh basil and mint elevate the flavors, while a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing ties everything together, making it perfect for light lunches, picnics, or as a side dish for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta (or other chunky pasta shapes)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups baby arugula
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Cheese and Olives
- 6 ounces crumbly feta cheese
- 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil, adding plenty of salt to make it very salty. Cook the orecchiette pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta well and set aside to cool slightly.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the diced tomatoes, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, baby arugula, crumbly feta cheese, sliced kalamata olives, chopped fresh basil, and chopped mint. Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and gently stir to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare and Add Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sea salt, and ground black pepper until well emulsified. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta salad mixture and stir gently to ensure every bite is coated with the bright, tangy dressing.
Notes
- Use chunky pasta shapes like orecchiette that hold the dressing and ingredients well.
- This salad can be served immediately or chilled for an hour to develop flavors.
- For a vegan version, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Adjust salt according to taste, especially because feta and olives add saltiness.
- Add fresh lemon zest to the dressing for extra brightness if desired.
