My Big Fat Greek Pasta Salad

Name: My Big Fat Greek Pasta Salad
Prep time: 57 min
Cook time: 57 min
Total time: 57 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Mediterranean, European, Greek
Ingredients: 1 slice peeled cucumber, quartered lengthwise in 3/4 inch thick slices; 118 milliliters extra virgin olive oil; 113 grams feta cheese (cut into small cubes or crumbled); 3 Tbsps fresh basil leaves, cut into strips; 2 teaspoons minced fresh mint leaves; 2 Tbsps fresh parsley, chopped; 1 pressed fresh garlic cloves or 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 237 milliliters sweet grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise; 1 small green pepper, cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips; 4 green onions, sliced thin; 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; 118 milliliters pitted kalamata olive, halved lengthwise; 3 Tbsps fresh squeezed lemon juice; 1 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest; 1 teaspoon dried greek oregano; 1 small red pepper, cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips; 118 milliliters red onion, cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips; 2 Tbsps red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; 340 grams box tri-color spiral pasta (Barilla brand); 1 small yellow pepper, cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips

My Big Fat Greek Pasta Salad might be just the side dish you are searching for. This recipe serves 8. One serving contains 348 calories, 9g of protein, and 19g of fat. A mixture of cucumber, mint leaves, bell pepper, and a handful of other ingredients are all it takes to make this recipe so tasty. This recipe is typical of Mediterranean cuisine. From preparation to the plate, this recipe takes approximately 57 minutes.

Instructions

PREPARE the DRESSING: Grate 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest; KNEAD and cut lemons into halves to juice, yielding 2 1/2 tablespoons juice; WHISK together remaining ingredients well; SET aside.BRING bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large pot; ADD 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt and spiral pasta, returning to boiling; COOK pasta according to package directions (do not overcook -- pasta should be al dente).DRAIN pasta well; RETURN pasta to pot and toss with a very small amount of olive oil to prevent sticking; LET stand to cool.PREP all pasta salad vegetables and fresh herbs to specifications; PLACE prepped vegetables into a large bowl.ADD the cooled pasta to vegetables in bowl, combining well.ADD 4-6 ounces cubed or crumbled feta cheese, without tossing.WHISK the DRESSING mixture again; POUR the DRESSING evenly over pasta salad; GENTLY fold pasta salad over from the bottom a few times to evenly distribute the dressing and combine feta cheese.CHILL pasta salad at least 2 hours to overnight.GARNISH pasta salad with parsley sprig, or fresh basil or mint leaves.SERVE and ENJOY!

Ingredients you will need

Pasta