My Big Fat Greek Pasta Salad

Health score
22%
My Big Fat Greek Pasta Salad
57 min.
8
252kcal

Suggestions

This Greek pasta salad is a flavor explosion! It's a perfect side dish for a picnic, potluck, or barbecue. It's also a great make-ahead dish, as it tastes even better the next day. This salad is packed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and feta cheese, and it's dressed with a tangy lemon vinaigrette. The pasta is cooked al dente and tossed with the dressing while still warm, allowing it to absorb all the flavors. The result is a bright and refreshing pasta salad that's perfect for summer. The bell peppers add a nice crunch, while the cucumber and tomatoes provide a juicy burst. The feta cheese adds a creamy, salty element that ties everything together. The fresh herbs—basil, mint, and parsley—give the salad a lovely, fragrant finish. This Greek pasta salad is a must-try for anyone who loves Mediterranean flavors. It's a delicious and healthy option for any gathering or meal. It's sure to be a crowd-pleaser and will have everyone asking for the recipe. So, if you're looking for a new pasta salad to add to your repertoire, this is the one! It's easy to make, and the combination of flavors is simply irresistible.

Ingredients

  • slices cucumber peeled quartered
  • 0.5 cup olive oil extra virgin 
  • ounces feta cheese crumbled cut into small cubes or )
  • tablespoons basil fresh cut into strips
  • tablespoons basil fresh cut into strips
  • 1.5 teaspoons mint leaves fresh minced
  • tablespoons parsley fresh chopped
  •  garlic powder fresh pressed
  • cup grape tomatoes sweet halved lengthwise
  • small bell pepper green cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips
  •  spring onion sliced thin
  • teaspoon pepper fresh black
  • 0.5 cup kalamata olives pitted halved lengthwise
  • 2.5 tablespoons juice of lemon fresh
  • 0.5 teaspoon lemon zest fresh finely grated
  • teaspoon oregano dried
  • small bell pepper red cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips
  • 0.5 cup onion red cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips
  • 1.5 tablespoons red wine vinegar 
  • teaspoon sea salt fine
  • 12 ounce rotini pasta (Barilla brand)
  • small bell pepper yellow cut into thin 1 1/2-inch strips

Equipment

  • bowl
  • whisk
  • pot

Directions

  1. 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!

Nutrition Facts

Calories252kcal
Protein13.36%
Fat27.9%
Carbs58.74%

Properties

Glycemic Index
54.63
Glycemic Load
13.61
Inflammation Score
-8
Nutrition Score
13.717826185019%

Flavonoids

Eriodictyol
0.23mg
Hesperetin
0.68mg
Naringenin
0.19mg
Apigenin
2.17mg
Luteolin
0.67mg
Isorhamnetin
0.5mg
Kaempferol
0.19mg
Myricetin
0.2mg
Quercetin
3.12mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:251.61kcal
12.58%
Fat:7.85g
12.08%
Saturated Fat:2.58g
16.15%
Carbohydrates:37.2g
12.4%
Net Carbohydrates:34.3g
12.47%
Sugar:3.01g
3.34%
Cholesterol:12.62mg
4.21%
Sodium:590.74mg
25.68%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Protein:8.46g
16.93%
Vitamin C:44.3mg
53.7%
Selenium:29.27µg
41.81%
Vitamin K:41.76µg
39.77%
Manganese:0.54mg
26.9%
Vitamin A:821.24IU
16.42%
Phosphorus:148.06mg
14.81%
Fiber:2.9g
11.58%
Vitamin B6:0.23mg
11.42%
Calcium:104.5mg
10.45%
Vitamin B2:0.17mg
10.28%
Copper:0.19mg
9.49%
Magnesium:36.75mg
9.19%
Folate:32.89µg
8.22%
Zinc:1.18mg
7.84%
Vitamin E:1.17mg
7.83%
Potassium:263.21mg
7.52%
Iron:1.23mg
6.84%
Vitamin B3:1.3mg
6.51%
Vitamin B1:0.09mg
6.24%
Vitamin B5:0.43mg
4.32%
Vitamin B12:0.24µg
3.99%
Source:Food.com