Summer Greek Pasta Salad Olives (Printable)

Refreshing summer dish packed with Greek flavors—creamy feta, briny olives, crisp veggies, zesty dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (penne, fusilli, or farfalle)
02 - Salt for pasta cooking water

→ Vegetables

03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 7 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small red onion, finely sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Greek Flavors

07 - 3.5 oz Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
08 - 4.25 oz feta cheese, crumbled
09 - 2 tbsp capers (optional)

→ Dressing

10 - 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
15 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Fresh Herbs

16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Fill a large pot with water, season generously with salt, and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente following packaging directions. Drain using a colander and rinse with cold water to cool rapidly. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, finely sliced red onion, diced red bell pepper, Kalamata olives, and capers if using.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, minced garlic, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until emulsified.
04 - Add cooled pasta to the vegetable mixture. Pour dressing over all ingredients and toss gently to ensure uniform coating.
05 - Fold in crumbled feta cheese, chopped parsley, and dill if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The briny olives and creamy feta bring a punch of flavor that feels like summer in every bite.
  • This is the salad everyone wants seconds of, making each picnic and potluck feel a little more festive.
02 -
  • Don’t skip rinsing the pasta—if you rush, the salad turns sticky and loses its refreshing bite.
  • Nobody likes soggy feta; always add just before serving for creamy pockets with every forkful.
03 -
  • To mellow onion’s sharp edge, soak slices briefly in ice water before adding.
  • The secret touch: always sprinkle fresh herbs in just before serving for the brightest flavor.
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