Countryside Pasta Salad

Bursting with vibrant flavors and rustic charm, this Countryside Pasta Salad is the perfect blend of fresh vegetables, tangy dressing, and creamy feta cheese. Fusilli or rotini pasta serves as the hearty base, paired with crisp cucumbers, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy bell peppers, and savory kalamata olives. A zesty homemade dressing, featuring extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and a touch of honey, ties it all together with the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Finished with fresh parsley and basil, this crowd-pleasing side dish is ideal for picnics, potlucks, or a light weekday meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, this Mediterranean-inspired salad is as easy as it is delicious, and it’s sure to become a favorite in your recipe rotation!

Nutriscore Rating: 68/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 300 grams pasta (fusilli or rotini)
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 1 medium cucumber
• 200 grams cherry tomatoes
• 1 small red onion
• 100 grams kalamata olives (pitted)
• 100 grams feta cheese (crumbled)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil (chopped)
• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoons black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta is cooking, dice the red bell pepper and cucumber into small cubes.

Step 3

Halve the cherry tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 4

In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked pasta, red bell pepper, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.

Step 5

In a small bowl or jar, prepare the dressing. Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.

Step 6

Pour the dressing over the pasta salad and toss everything well to coat evenly.

Step 7

Sprinkle the chopped parsley and basil over the top for added freshness and color.

Step 8

Cover and chill the pasta salad in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 9

Serve the salad chilled or at room temperature and enjoy your Countryside Pasta Salad!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1253.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1669.1

Total Fat 107.7g	0%
Saturated Fat 27.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 89.3mg	0%
Sodium 4403.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 145.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.3g	0%
Total Sugars 29.2g
Protein 40.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 708.9mg	0%
Iron 7.9mg	0%
Potassium 1586.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 56.6%

Protein: 9.3%

Carbs: 34.1%