It is summer time and continuing with my Greek theme this week, I made a Greek Pasta Salad. I love these flavours and it is so refreshing. Pasta Salads are my go-to in the summer. I always crave pasta and this is tasty. We had friends visit us last week and Cheryl brought over an amazing Greek salad. We thoroughly enjoyed it and she inspired me to make one.
I believe the Macaroni Pasta salad is an American dish and researching it found that the first recipe was published in the 60’s. These salads became very popular in the 80’s and then took on different ingredients other than mayonnaise. The very first recipes told us to cook the macaroni and then treat it like a potato salad, with the same ingredients. My early version always had canned ham in it, and don’t ask me why? All I know is that the kids loved it and refer to it as our Terrance Avenue Macaroni Salad.
I hope the family likes this new version. As always switch up the ingredients and make it your own. Add or takeaway what you like for don’t like. Another nice summer salad on my blog is https://recipesatmytable.com/rice-salad/
Ingredients for greek pasta salad
- 450 gr. cooked spiral pasta
- 1 medium tomato, cut into wedges
- 1 each small red and yellow pepper, cubed ( you can use a green pepper here too)
- 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives
- 1 cucumber cubed
- 1 tomato seeded and cut into small pieces
DRESSING:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 10 minced fresh basil
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper chilli flakes (optional)
Process
Cook the pasta according to your taste. We like ours al dente. Let it cool.
Place in a large serving bowl. First toss in the olives. Next cut the the tomato, peppers and cucumbers. Mix it all together.
Start the dressing by placing the basil, garlic and onions in a food processor and pulsing.
Now put the purée into the olive oil and vinegar. Mix and add in the salt, pepper and oregano.
Next, sprinkle in the parmesan cheese and toss. Then follow with the feta and toss again.
Pour over salad the dressing over the pasta and toss until fully coat. Place in refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Serve in some pretty dishes.
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