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Greek Pasta Salad with Rotini and Feta


Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

A spin on a classic dish with all the perfectly paired flavors that make up a Greek salad. Hands-on time is minimal with tasty returns on this fresh and easy chilled pasta dish that can be served as a side or main course!

Rotini pasta for Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

Rotini pasta for Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

The word rotini originates from a 17th-century Italian word meaning small wheels. The pasta noodle’s shape originates from Northern Italy and because of its tighter corkscrew shape, sauces and ingredients are threaded well throughout the helix of the pasta.

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

Rotini pasta for Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

Regardless that we’re using an Italian pasta noodle for this Greek salad, the combination was meant to be! Fresh flavors from the tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions and herbs work well with the addition of pasta and chickpeas. A generous amount of tangy feta cheese with the red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil deliciously coat the rotini inside-and-out.

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta - prep

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta – prep

The pasta can be cooked and chilled a day ahead. Prepare the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl to assemble.

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta - prep

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta – prep

Gently add and toss the cooked pasta noodles and combine to coat. The flavors really meld deliciously together and intensifies even more if made a day ahead or when enjoying the next day as leftovers.

Rotini pasta for Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

Greek pasta salad with rotini and feta

The recipe below is a versatile guideline. No need to really measure out the vegetables and herbs. Add more here and there of the ingredients you especially favor. I LOVE a generous add of feta but keep the portion sensible because Hubbs prefers less than more of my prized feta. The optional addition of red pepper flakes are for those that don’t mind spicing it up a bit (Hubbs likes it spicy rather than lots of feta!)!

I’ve tested and made this a couple of times during the last week and happy with serving it either solo OR alongside a piece of baked cod, grilled chicken breast or as a main. A crisp Pinot grigio/Pinot gris or Sauvignon Blanc will pair beautifully!

Καλή όρεξη! (Kalí óreksi!) (← bon appétit in Greek).

Greek Pasta Salad with Rotini and Feta

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Greek Pasta Salad with Rotini and Feta
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
  • 16-ounce package Rotini pasta
  •  
  • 2 medium tomatoes, cored, seeded and cut ½-inch dice
  • half an English cucumber or regular cucumber seeded, cut to ½-inch dice (if not using English cucumber, peeled)
  • half of a small red onion, cut 1/2-inch dice
  • 3/4 cup chickpeas/garbanzos, rinsed and pat dry
  • ½ cup pitted kalamata olives, rinsed and sliced
  • 3-4 tablespoons fresh oregano, roughly chopped
  • 4 tablespoons fresh flat leaf, Italian parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1 ¼-½ cups crumbled feta cheese
  •  
  • 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  •  
  • Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (optional)
Method
  1. Cook Rotini pasta noodles according to package. Drain and refrigerate until chilled (can be cooked a day ahead).
  2. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients (except pasta). Gently add the noodles and toss to evenly distribute ingredients.
  3. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container. © Images & content: Cristina A-Moore for TeenieCakes.com.
Teenie Notes
  • Noodles can be cooked and refrigerated a day ahead.
  • No need to peel English cucumbers.
  • The kalamata olives and feta cheese are salty. Optionally add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Don’t mind the heat? Add pepper flakes for some added spiciness.

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Comments

  7. Healing Tomato says

    This Greek Pasta Salad looks delicious. I love feta in anything so this will be my lunch for tomorrow. Great recipe and I will be happy to eat it everyday.

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