Description
Summer calls for this delightful Ina Garten tomato feta pasta salad, blending Mediterranean flavors with fresh ingredients. Herb-infused pasta and juicy tomatoes create a perfect dish you’ll savor at picnics, potlucks, or quiet dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb (227 g) fusilli pasta
- 1 lb (454 g) ripe tomatoes, medium-diced
- 1 lb (454 g) feta cheese, medium-diced
- ¾ cup (113 g) kalamata olives, pitted and diced
- 1 cup (100 g) Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
- 5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained
- 1 cup (30 g) flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 6 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, diced
- 1 tsp capers, drained
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, adding a splash of olive oil. Cook pasta until perfectly al dente, typically 10-12 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to cease cooking, then cool completely.
- Ingredient Assembly: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta with vibrant cherry tomatoes, rich Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and intense sun-dried tomato pieces, creating a colorful Mediterranean base.
- Dressing Creation: Blend sun-dried tomatoes, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, capers, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture transforms into a rustic, emulsified sauce with delightful texture.
- Final Composition: Pour the aromatic dressing over the pasta mixture, ensuring each ingredient is lovingly coated. Sprinkle generously with freshly grated Parmesan and finely chopped Italian parsley. Gently toss to marry flavors, creating a harmonious Mediterranean-style pasta salad that sings with complexity and depth.
Notes
- Pasta Perfection: Choose quality pasta like penne or rotini that holds dressing well and maintains texture when chilled.
- Dressing Depth: Allow ingredients to sit at room temperature before blending for more intense, developed flavor profiles.
- Chill Strategy: Refrigerate salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to help flavors meld and improve overall taste experience.
- Make-Ahead Magic: This pasta salad tastes even better the next day as ingredients continue to marinate and intensify in flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg