Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (2024)

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This Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe is easy to make and tossed with a yummy lemon-herb vinaigrette.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (1)

Now that the weather’s warming up, it’s high time for the season of picnics, grill-outs, and patio parties to begin! Finally!!

So to celebrate, I thought it was only appropriate to cool off some hot pasta, toss it with a bunch of fresh and zesty ingredients, and toss it in a bowl that’s perfect for passing around the picnic. That’s right, I made you some pasta salad!

Because if memory serves me right, you all sure seem tolove a good pasta salad. Last time I checked, my favorite 5-Ingredient Pasta Saladwas still one of the top recipes on this site (and one of my all-all-all-time favorites). Not to mention thisspring-y, or this lightened-up Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad, or this sweet Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad, that you also have seemed to enjoy. So for something new this year, I thought I’d trya simple Mediterranean twist on the classic pasta salad, chocked full of fresh veggies and olives, sprinkles with plenty of feta, and tossed in a zesty lemon-herb vinaigrette.

And let’s just say, I’mcertain you’re going to fall for this one too.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (2)

The ingredients for the salad were pretty straightforward:

  • lots of fresh cucumber (I went with an English cucumber, so that you don’t have to mess with seeding it)
  • ripe cherry tomatoes (or you could use sun-dried tomatoes)
  • thinly- sliced red onion (feel free to soak it in cold water beforehand if you want a less onion-y taste)
  • feta cheese galore (I used reduced-fat)
  • your favorite kind of pasta

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (3)

Then just whip up a simple lemon-herb vinaigrette to give it a fresh and flavorful kick, toss everything together…

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (4)

…andthis beautiful creation will be yours to enjoy and share.

So cheers to cooling down our pasta, and soaking up these warmer days ahead!

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (5)

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 60 reviews

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 -8 servings 1x
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Description

This Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe is quick and easy to make, it’s tossed with a zesty lemon-herb vinaigrette, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser!

Ingredients

Scale

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces dry pasta(I used farfalle)
  • 1 English cucumber, diced
  • 1 pintcherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 2/3 cup sliced kalamata olives
  • 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
  • half of a medium red onion, peeled and thinly sliced

Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons driedoregano, minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey(or your desired sweetener)
  • 2 small garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

To Make The Mediterranean Pasta Salad:

  1. Cook the pasta al dente in a large stockpot of generously-salted water according to package instructions. Drain pasta, then rinse under cold water for about 20-30 seconds until no longer hot. Transfer the pasta to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add cucumber, tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and red onion to the mixing bowl, then drizzle all of the vinaigrette evenly on top. Toss until all of the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
  3. Serve immediately, garnished with extra feta and black pepper if desired.

To Make The Lemon-Herb Vinaigrette:

  1. Whisk all ingredients together until combined.

Notes

Cook time does not include the amount of time it takes to cook the pasta.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (6)

posted on March 16, 2016 by Ali

4th of July / Memorial Day / Labor Day, Greek-Inspired, Main Dishes, Pastas, Vegetarian

171 Comments »

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171 comments on “Mediterranean Pasta Salad”

« Previous123

  1. Lorie Pyne August 2, 2021 @ 4:40 pm Reply

    Such a good salad. I used bow tie pasta and 2 tsps.of honey. Awesome.

    • Carrie H. January 12, 2022 @ 9:38 am

      Very good and easy. Even my kids enjoyed this recipe. Thanks!!

  2. Dorothy Briese August 5, 2021 @ 11:46 pm Reply

    The salad is just delicious ?!! Thanks

  3. Leejane Travis September 5, 2021 @ 11:15 pm Reply

    This was a hit! Delicious and the longer it’s in the dressing the better.

  4. Anitha Shanmugam November 23, 2021 @ 6:35 pm Reply

    Taste delicious, very easy to make and healthy too. Thank you

  5. Rose January 7, 2022 @ 1:25 am Reply

    Hi, all well wth your recipes, but what about the carbs in there? like the farfalle white pasta, and the honey in other recipe, i’am gluten entolorant but gluten free is full of carbs Too! Can you please reply to me on that?

  6. Lori Hunt January 28, 2022 @ 11:01 am Reply

    Great dish! Do you have calories? I didn’t see them

  7. Jordan February 17, 2022 @ 5:33 pm Reply

    I’ve made this awhile back and it’s one of our favorites. Contemplating on making it for a baby shower. I know it says 6-8 servings but how much is that in terms of cups? I’m looking to fill 50 or so 9oz individual cups so not sure if one of the recipes will suffice or if I need to double or triple.

    • Nathan April 21, 2022 @ 7:11 pm

      Awesome salad!!! Everybody loved it, and we’ll make it again!! Thanks!!

  8. Lj March 11, 2022 @ 9:28 am Reply

    Good morning, do you have a breakdown of the nutritional value of this salad?

  9. Hannah April 5, 2022 @ 6:06 pm Reply

    Delicious! I added grated parm, chicken breast, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, and spinach. Super delicious!

  10. Alanna Brand April 19, 2022 @ 4:53 pm Reply

    Hi. I would like to make this for a reunion will need to mak for 100. Your recipe say serve immediately. Could the pasta and ingrians done ahead of time and mixed adding the lemon sauce just before serving?

  11. Rebecca May 11, 2022 @ 4:06 pm Reply

    Have made this a couple times for meal prep, and I always seem to come back to it and make it again and again.

    Question: could you add spinach to this as well? Or would it not be good with spinach?

  12. Nikki June 4, 2022 @ 1:32 pm Reply

    Prefect recipe. I love this. I actually brought it to my local Mediterranean restaurant to have them try it. They loved it. The only problem I had was, it was a little dry. I asked the restaurant what I needed to do so it wasn’t so dry and she said to coat the noodles first with olive oil when they’re cold, then add the vinaigrette. I did that, and it came out perfect.

  13. Amy June 15, 2022 @ 9:17 am Reply

    gorgeous pasta dish, have had it for my lunch for the past few days and thoroughly enjoying it!

  14. Christine B June 30, 2022 @ 11:48 am Reply

    Super easy to throw together! I only had a box of chickpea rotini on hand and it worked perfectly! Super tasty! This is a keeper for sure!!

  15. Judy Groen July 4, 2022 @ 1:38 pm Reply

    Can I make this ahead and add the dressing the next day when serving

  16. Sydney Alyson July 4, 2022 @ 2:33 pm Reply

    Omg, this is soooo much better than a generic Mediterranean pasta salad. A new staple in my home. Thank you!!!

  17. Lindsey July 5, 2022 @ 8:24 am Reply

    I don’t usually leave comments, but I made this last night for a July 4th party and it was DELICIOUS! So fresh and the flavors were amazing! It was a hit!

  18. Lorraine July 26, 2022 @ 3:02 pm Reply

    This recipe is perfect simple and easy it is also forgiving but I would say stick to ingredients in dressing it is perfect

  19. Kassidy July 31, 2022 @ 11:07 am Reply

    So yummy!!How long will this keep good in the fridge for?

  20. Tom August 8, 2022 @ 8:47 pm Reply

    It’s unfortunate, that I don’t possess the vocabulary to express how delicious this salad is. You’ll just have to take my word for it. It’s so good, and a new favorite.

  21. Sara August 10, 2022 @ 9:03 am Reply

    Awesome recipe!!! Took it to book club and everyone loved it! Thank you

  22. Teresa December 7, 2022 @ 11:48 am Reply

    Can this be made a day ahead?

  23. Dianne Valek May 28, 2023 @ 8:00 pm Reply

    Made this recipe today and it was a big hit! Loved by all of our guests! Thanks for sharing :)

  24. Britteny August 16, 2023 @ 12:25 pm Reply

    Made this pasta salad a couple times already and it is fantastic! Even my picky eaters like it. I just have to say that anytime I’m looking for a recipe if I see the “Gimmesomeoven” attached to the recipe I know it’s going to be good!

« Previous123

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe | Gimme Some Ove (2024)

FAQs

What are the five mistakes to avoid pasta salad? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Making Pasta Salad
  • Using the wrong pasta. The wrong pasta type or size can make pasta salad soggy, slimy, or just plain hard to eat. ...
  • Salting only once, at the end. ...
  • Too many raw ingredients! ...
  • Overdressing or underdressing the salad. ...
  • Not seasoning again just before serving.

What kind of pasta for a Mediterranean diet? ›

The Mediterranean diet encourages upping your intake of vegetables, legumes, whole grains, seafood, and extra-virgin olive oil. Therefore, pasta (whole grain pasta, in particular), can absolutely be part of a Mediterranean diet. Chickpea noodles are also encouraged in Mediterranean pasta recipes.

What does a Mediterranean salad contain? ›

I make my Mediterranean Chopped Salad with simple vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions mixed with chickpeas, feta cheese, and olives and toss it all in an herby, lemony vinaigrette! All you have to do is chop all the ingredients, make the dressing, and then mix everything together right before you serve it.

How do you make pasta salad not soggy? ›

Cook the pasta al dente: Al dente pasta is firmer and less likely to become mushy or soggy when mixed with other ingredients. Rinse the pasta with cold water after cooking: This helps to remove excess starch and cool the pasta, which can help to prevent it from becoming soggy.

Should I rinse pasta for cold pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Should you rinse pasta with cold water after cooking? ›

No, in almost every case, you should not rinse pasta after it's cooked. It's true that rinsing noodles or pasta after cooking halts the cooking process. “This is also known as shocking,” Tiess says. But rinsing also removes the starch water after the noodles are strained, which is what helps adhere sauce to noodles.

What are the 2 most recognized ingredients in Mediterranean diet? ›

Key ingredients of Mediterranean cuisine include olive oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein-rich legumes, fish and whole grains with moderate amounts of wine and red meat.

What cheese is OK on Mediterranean diet? ›

Cheese & Yogurt

Dairy products common to the traditional Mediterranean Diet include: brie, chevre, corvo, feta, haloumi, manchego, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, ricotta, yogurt (including Greek yogurt).

Can you eat eggs on a Mediterranean diet? ›

The foundation of the Mediterranean diet is plant foods. That means meals are built around vegetables, fruits, herbs, nuts, beans and whole grains. Moderate amounts of dairy, poultry and eggs are part of the Mediterranean diet, as is seafood.

Can I eat Mediterranean salad everyday? ›

It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and iron. It also contains ingredients full of phytonutrients and antioxidants, such as oil and onion, which reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. We suggest adding this low-fat superfood to your everyday diet!

Is Mayo OK on Mediterranean diet? ›

A: Mayonnaise is processed food that contains inflammatory vegetable fats. So, mayo is not allowed on the Mediterranean diet. You can substitute Mayo with Greek yogurt or avocados to make your sandwich, which will be still tasty, but far healthier.

What is the difference between a Greek and Mediterranean salad? ›

The primary difference lies in the use of specific ingredients. While both salads incorporate fresh vegetables and olive oil, Greek salad is characterized by the addition of feta cheese and Kalamata olives, giving it a uniquely Greek flavour.

Should you drain pasta for pasta salad? ›

How to Cook Pasta for Pasta Salad Recipes
  1. You should cook the pasta for 1 minute less than the time recommended in the package instructions.
  2. Then, drain the pasta, spread it out on a cooking sheet, drizzle a single layer of extra-virgin olive oil over it and allow it to cool.

What is the best olive oil for pasta salad? ›

The best olive oil for salads is the extra virgin olive oil. It is the olive oil with most flavored and fruity of all of them. But of course, there are many varieties of extra virgin olive oils, each of which have their own characteristics.

Why does my pasta salad taste weird? ›

Vinegar and other acidic ingredients do strange things to the flavor of pasta when used in salad-level amounts. Ever notice an irritating acerbic aftertaste just about every time you've eaten pasta salad? That's the vinegar announcing itself, and it's not pleasant.

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

What is necessary to avoid when making fresh pasta? ›

15 Mistakes To Avoid When Making Fresh Pasta
  1. Not using the well method to mix your pasta. ...
  2. Using the wrong type of flour. ...
  3. Using too many egg whites. ...
  4. Not using the correct dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. ...
  5. Not adding semolina. ...
  6. Under-kneading your pasta dough. ...
  7. Forgetting to rest your pasta dough. ...
  8. Rolling out your pasta by hand.
Feb 1, 2023

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