Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Our go-to summer side dish or main course, this Mediterranean pasta salad is packed with pasta, veggies, and cheese! Tossed with a homemade dressing, it's hearty, filling, tangy, and so delicious.
Servings: 8 servings
Equipment
- 1 Small Bowl or Jar
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta cooked al dente and rinsed under cold water
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 1½ cups Persian cucumbers sliced rounds
- 1 cup Kalamata olives halved
- ½ cup sliced pepperoncini
- ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packing in oil drained and chopped
- ½ cup orange bell pepper thinly sliced
- ½ cup red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- 8 oz smoked gouda cheese 1/4 inch cubes
- 6 oz beef salami 1/4 inch cubes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 3 tablespoons Kalamata olive brine or red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sumac
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.1 pound rotini pasta
Prepare the Dressing:
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, zest, Kalamata brine or vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, Italian herbs, Dijon, sumac, and smoked paprika until well emulsified.½ cup extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 3 tablespoons Kalamata olive brine or red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons honey, ½ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon sumac, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, pepperoncini, sun-dried tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, cheese, salami, and basil.2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, 1½ cups Persian cucumbers, 1 cup Kalamata olives, ½ cup sliced pepperoncini, ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packing in oil, ½ cup orange bell pepper, ½ cup red bell pepper, 1 small red onion, 6 oz beef salami, 8 oz smoked gouda cheese, 1/2 cup fresh basil
Dress & Toss:
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Chill & Serve:
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1149mg | Potassium: 611mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1358IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 250mg | Iron: 2mg
