Christmas Pasta Salad
A colorful and flavorful pasta salad perfect for festive gatherings, featuring fresh vegetables, feta cheese, and zesty Italian dressing.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12 oz tri-color or your choice pasta Cooked until al dente
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 each bell pepper, diced (any color)
- ½ each red onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup black olives, sliced
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled Can be substituted with dairy-free option
- ½ cup Italian dressing Adjust to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste Feta and olives may add saltiness
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather and rinse the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. Halve the tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, and finely chop the red onion.
Cooking the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically for about 8-10 minutes.
- Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Mixing the Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese.
Adding Dressing
- Drizzle the Italian dressing over the salad mixture and toss gently to coat all ingredients.
Seasoning and Garnishing
- Taste the salad and season with salt and pepper as needed. Chop fresh parsley and sprinkle on top as a garnish.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Serving
- After chilling, give the salad a gentle stir and serve it in a dish or directly from the bowl.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. For best texture, keep pasta and dressing separate until serving.