Description
Fresh and vibrant Traditional Greek Pasta Salad featuring crisp vegetables, crumbled plant-based feta cheese, and a zesty natural dressing. This colorful and wholesome salad combines Mediterranean flavors in an easy-to-make dish perfect for meals, picnics, or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Vegetables
- 2 cups short pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 cup cucumbers, chopped (peeled or unpeeled based on preference)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Cheese
- 1/2 cup plant-based feta cheese, crumbled
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (natural)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the short pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and rinse briefly under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Vegetables: While the pasta cooks, chop cucumbers, halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice red onion, roughly chop fresh parsley, and pit and halve Kalamata olives for bite-sized pieces.
- Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder (natural), dried oregano, salt, and pepper until well emulsified to create a bright and tangy dressing.
- Combine Everything: In a large mixing bowl, toss the cooled pasta with chopped vegetables, Kalamata olives, and crumbled plant-based feta cheese. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully before serving.
Notes
- Use cold pasta by rinsing in cold water to prevent clumping.
- Season the dressing thoroughly for depth of flavor.
- Let the salad rest chilled so herbs and dressing deepen in flavor.
- Choose ripe tomatoes for the best freshness.
- Add plant-based cheese last to maintain its texture while tossing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Greek pasta salad, plant-based pasta salad, Mediterranean salad, vegan salad, gluten free pasta salad
