Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Vegetables and Herbs

This Mediterranean pasta salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that's perfect for summer. It's made with whole wheat pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and fresh parsley. The salad is dressed with a simple olive oil and lemon juice vinaigrette and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste. This salad is a great way to use up leftover pasta and vegetables, and it's also a healthy and satisfying meal.

I first had this salad at a Mediterranean restaurant in New York City. I was immediately hooked on the combination of flavors and textures. The salad was light and refreshing, but it was also filling and satisfying. I knew I had to recreate it at home. I experimented with different ingredients and proportions until I came up with a recipe that I loved. I've been making this salad for years now, and it's always a hit with my family and friends.

Prep time: 15 | Cook time: 12 | Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Whole wheat pasta
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Red onion
• Bell pepper
• Feta cheese
• Kalamata olives
• Fresh parsley

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Drain pasta and rinse with cold water.
3. Combine pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, bell pepper, feta, olives, and parsley in a large bowl.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Toss to combine.

Why It Works

• The combination of whole wheat pasta, vegetables, and feta cheese provides a good balance of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
• The olive oil and lemon juice vinaigrette adds a bright and flavorful dressing to the salad.
• The fresh parsley adds a fresh and herbaceous flavor to the salad.
• This salad is a great way to use up leftover pasta and vegetables.