Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad (Printable)
Zesty Mediterranean pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, basil and a tangy red wine vinaigrette.
# Ingredient List:
→ Pasta
01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
→ Vegetables & Herbs
02 - ⅔ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and sliced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
06 - ½ cucumber, diced
07 - ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
→ Cheese
09 - ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - ½ tsp dried oregano
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How to Make:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the short pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain through a strainer and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Set aside to drain thoroughly.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooled pasta, sliced sun-dried tomatoes, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, halved Kalamata olives, diced cucumber, chopped basil, and chopped parsley.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt, and pepper until smooth and emulsified.
04 - Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the vinaigrette.
05 - Gently fold in the crumbled feta cheese, if using. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld, or serve immediately at room temperature.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The dressing doubles as a marinade for whatever extras you want to throw in later, so nothing ever goes to waste.
- It tastes even better after sitting in the fridge overnight, which means you can make it ahead and completely forget about it until everyone starts asking what smells so good.
02 -
- Rinsing pasta feels wrong to every instinct you have, but for cold salad it is essential because residual heat will cook your vegetables and turn your basil black.
- Do not dress the salad and then immediately serve it because those flavors need at least half an hour to mingle and soften into something greater than the sum of their parts.
03 -
- Save a tablespoon of the oil from the sun dried tomato jar and use it in place of regular olive oil in the dressing for an extra layer of concentrated tomato flavor.
- Make double the dressing and keep half in a jar for when you inevitably want to make this again two days later.