Tomato Feta Pasta Salad
An easy recipe for a vibrant pasta salad featuring fusilli, fresh tomatoes, kalamata olives, and feta cheese. A rich dressing is made from sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and capers. The salad is finished with Parmesan and parsley, then tossed together. Perfect for lunch or a crowd.
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot For cooking pasta
- 1 Colander For draining pasta
- 1 Large Mixing Bowl For assembling salad
- 1 Food Processor For making dressing
- 1 Knife and Cutting Board For dicing ingredients
Ingredients
Main
- 1/2 pound fusilli spirals pasta
- Kosher salt
- Good olive oil
- 1 pound ripe tomatoes medium-diced
- 3/4 cup good black olives such as kalamata, pitted and diced
- 1 pound good feta cheese medium-diced
- 6 sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained and chopped
- 5 sun-dried tomatoes in oil drained
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 6 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1 garlic clove diced
- 1 teaspoon capers drained
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 cup packed flat-leaf parsley chopped
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water with a splash of oil to keep it from sticking together. Boil for 12 minutes, or according to the directions on the package. Drain well and allow to cool. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the tomatoes, olives, feta and chopped sun-dried tomatoes.
- For the dressing, combine the sun-dried tomatoes, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, salt and pepper in a food processor until almost smooth.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and parsley, and toss well.
Notes
Ensure pasta is fully cooled before combining with other ingredients to prevent the cheese and vegetables from getting warm and soft. For the best flavor, use high-quality feta and ripe, flavorful tomatoes. The dressing can be made ahead of time; allow it to come to room temperature before tossing with the salad. Adjust salt and pepper to taste after mixing everything. Adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice can brighten the flavors. Consider chilling for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.