Eileen's Pasta Salad

Brighten up your table with Eileen’s Pasta Salad, a colorful and zesty dish perfect for any occasion! This Mediterranean-inspired salad combines tender penne pasta with a medley of fresh vegetables like cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and red bell peppers, all tossed in a tangy homemade dressing made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a touch of honey. Black olives and crumbled feta add a savory punch, while a sprinkle of oregano ties the flavors together beautifully. With just 25 minutes of prep and cook time, this easy pasta salad is perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a refreshing side dish. Serve it chilled or at room temperature for a vibrant and crowd-pleasing addition to your menu.

Nutriscore Rating: 66/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:25 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 0.5 medium red onion
• 0.5 cup black olives (sliced)
• 0.5 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
• 0.25 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 0.5 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente, according to the package instructions (typically 9-11 minutes). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, peel and dice the cucumber, dice the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.

Step 3

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to create the dressing.

Step 4

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and black olives.

Step 5

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss gently to coat everything evenly.

Step 6

Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese over the top and give the salad a final toss.

Step 7

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld. Stir again before serving.

Step 8

Serve chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1109.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1219.3

Total Fat 105.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 30.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 106.8mg	0%
Sodium 3575.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 55.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 11.9g	0%
Total Sugars 25.9g
Protein 25.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 802.0mg	0%
Iron 6.2mg	0%
Potassium 1526.4mg	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: 74.7%

Protein: 8.1%

Carbs: 17.3%