Summer Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is a perfect dish for summer. It’s refreshing, easy to make, and perfect for a picnic, barbecue, or any occasion that calls for a light and tasty meal. This recipe is a combination of different flavors and textures that come together to create a delicious and satisfying dish that you’ll enjoy all summer long.

Why this recipe works

This recipe works because it combines all of the best elements of a great pasta salad – it’s fresh, colorful, and packed with flavor. The combination of cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and black olives adds a variety of textures and flavors, while the toasted sunflower seeds add a delicious crunch. The crumbled feta cheese adds a tangy, creamy element that ties everything together.

The dressing is also an essential element of this recipe, as it brings all of the ingredients together and adds a delicious flavor. The mixture of red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper is a perfect blend of sweet and tangy, with just the right amount of acidity. This dressing is versatile and can be used with a variety of other salads as well.

This pasta salad is also easy to make and perfect for a summer gathering or potluck. It can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to serve.

What is Summer Pasta Salad

Summer Pasta Salad is a refreshing and delicious dish that is perfect for the summer season. It is a cold pasta salad that is made with short pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, black olives, toasted sunflower seeds, feta cheese, and a tangy dressing made from red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. It is a versatile dish that can be served as a side or as a main course.

Best ingredients for Summer Pasta Salad

• Pasta: Use a short pasta shape, such as fusilli or rotini, that can hold onto the dressing and other ingredients.
• Cherry tomatoes: These sweet and juicy tomatoes are a must-have for any summer pasta salad. They add a burst of color and flavor to the dish.
• Cucumber: Crisp, refreshing cucumber adds a nice crunch to the salad and helps balance out the other flavors.
• Red onion: Red onion adds a sharp, tangy flavor to the salad and adds a pop of color.
• Black olives: Black olives add a salty, briny flavor that complements the other ingredients in the salad.
• Sunflower seeds: Toasted sunflower seeds add a delicious crunch and nutty flavor to the salad.
• Feta cheese: Crumbled feta cheese adds a creamy, tangy flavor to the salad and helps bring all the ingredients together.
• Fresh herbs: Chopped fresh parsley adds a bright, fresh flavor to the salad, but you can also experiment with other herbs like basil or cilantro.

How to make Summer Pasta Salad

Please note: This is just an overview – the full ingredients and directions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Cook pasta until al dente.

Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente in salted water.

Step 2: Prepare the dressing.

Whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Step 3: Drain pasta and mix with the dressing.

Drain the pasta, transfer it to a large bowl and mix with half of the dressing (this is to ensure that pasta won’t get sticky while we chop veggies).

Step 4: Combine with chopped veggies.

Add halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red onion, sliced black olives, toasted sunflower seeds and chopped parsley. Pour the remaining dressing over the pasta mixture and toss everything together to coat evenly.

Step 5: Add feta cheese and serve.

Stir in crumbled feta cheese gently and enjoy!

Storing tips

• Store in an airtight container: Make sure to transfer your pasta salad to an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator. This will help keep it fresh and prevent it from drying out.
• Keep refrigerated: Pasta salad should always be stored in the refrigerator to keep it fresh and safe to eat. Keep it in the main compartment of the refrigerator, away from any sources of heat.
• Eat within 2-3 days: It’s best to eat it within 2-3 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
• Don’t freeze: Pasta salad does not freeze well and should not be stored in the freezer.

Top tips for the best Summer Pasta Salad

• Cook the pasta al dente: Be sure to cook the pasta until it’s al dente, which means it should still have a bit of bite to it. Overcooking the pasta can result in a mushy texture and make the salad less enjoyable.
• Use high-quality ingredients: Using fresh, high-quality ingredients will make a big difference in the flavor of your pasta salad. Choose ripe, juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and flavorful olives and feta cheese for the best results.
• Toast the sunflower seeds: Toasting the sunflower seeds on a pan until golden brown before adding them to the salad adds an extra layer of nutty flavor and crunch.
• Toss the salad gently: When adding the dressing and mixing the salad, be sure to toss it gently to avoid breaking up the ingredients and creating a mushy texture.

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