Delicious and Easy Pasta Salad Recipe: A Perfect Summer Dish

Introduction

As the sun-drenched days of summer roll around, there’s nothing quite as satisfying and refreshing as a hearty pasta salad. Bursting with vibrant flavors and an assortment of colorful ingredients, pasta salad is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course, a side dish, or even brought along to picnics and potlucks. In this blog post, we’ll share a delightful pasta salad recipe that’s not only simple to make but also a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• 8 ounces (about 2 cups) of your favorite pasta (penne, rotini, or bowtie work well)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
• 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn

For the Dressing:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Cook the Pasta:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
• Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Place the drained pasta in a large mixing bowl.

Prepare the Vegetables:

• While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables.
• Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the bell peppers, finely chop the red onion, slice the black olives, and tear the basil leaves.

Make the Dressing:

• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
• Taste the dressing and adjust the seasoning according to your preference.

Assemble the Salad:

• Add the prepared vegetables to the bowl with the pasta.
• Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables.

Add the Finishing Touches:

• Gently toss the pasta, vegetables, and dressing together until everything is well coated.
• Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the top of the salad.
• Garnish with the torn basil leaves.

Chill and Serve:

• Place the pasta salad in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• This allows the flavors to meld together and the salad to become even more delicious.