🧾 Ingredients
Pasta
- 1 lb spaghetti (or rotini/penne)
- Salt for boiling water
(Break spaghetti into halves if using long pasta like the photo)
Veggies
- 2 cups cucumber, diced
- 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup carrots, shredded (optional crunch)
Flavor Boosters
- 1 cup feta cheese cubes
- 3/4 cup black or Kalamata olives
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley or oregano
Lemon Herb Dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 fresh clove
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
🔥 Step 1 – Cook the Pasta
Boil salted water.
Cook pasta until al dente (firm, not soft).
Very important:
Soft pasta = mushy salad later.
Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
Let cool completely.
🔪 Step 2 – Chop Everything
Cut veggies small but chunky.
You want:
- bite-size pieces
- lots of color
- every forkful loaded
Big pieces make it feel fresh and rustic.
🥣 Step 3 – Mix the Dressing
In a bowl whisk:
- olive oil
- lemon
- vinegar
- mustard
- spices
Taste it.
Should be:
bright + zesty + slightly salty
If bland → add more lemon or salt.
🥗 Step 4 – Toss Everything
In a large bowl add:
- cooled pasta
- veggies
- olives
- feta
- herbs
Pour dressing over.
Toss gently until coated.
Don’t crush feta.
❄️ Step 5 – Chill
Refrigerate 30–60 minutes minimum.
This step changes everything.
Pasta absorbs dressing → flavors get deeper → SO much better.
Trust me.
🍽️ Step 6 – Serve
Before serving:
Add extra drizzle olive oil + squeeze lemon.
Toss again.
Serve cold or room temp.
Boom. Done.
😍 What It Tastes Like
Fresh
Tangy
Herby
Salty feta
Crunchy veggies
Light but filling
It’s basically Greek salad + pasta combined.
Super refreshing, not heavy.
You keep eating without feeling stuffed.
💡 Pro Tips (Game Changers)
1. Salt pasta water well
That’s where flavor starts.
2. Cool pasta fully
Warm pasta makes soggy salad.
3. Add dressing twice
Half now, half before serving = perfect flavor.
4. Use good olive oil
Cheap oil = flat taste.
5. Marinate onions in lemon 5 minutes
Removes harsh bite.
🔥 Fun Variations
Protein Boost
Add grilled chicken or tuna
Creamy Style
Add spoon of Greek yogurt or tzatziki
Italian Twist
Add salami + mozzarella
Vegan
Skip feta, add chickpeas
Spicy
Add chili flakes or jalapeños
🥡 Storage
Fridge:
3–4 days airtight
Gets better next day.
If dry → add splash olive oil + lemon.
❤️ Why Everyone Loves This
Because it’s:
Easy
Fresh
Healthy-ish
Cheap
Feeds a crowd
Perfect make-ahead
And honestly…
Cold pasta salads just hit different in summer