Name: Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 1 lb dried rotini pasta, cooked; 2 cups arugula; 1 bell pepper, diced; 1 red onion, diced; 1 cucumber, seeded and diced; 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 (12 oz) jar artichoke hearts in water, drained and diced; 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled; ⅓ cup basil, finely chopped; ⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped; 1 ¼ cups Italian dressing; Salt and pepper, to taste

Description

A refreshing and easy-to-make Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, fresh vegetables, herbs, and creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. Perfect as a side dish or a light meal, this salad combines crisp textures with vibrant flavors, ready in just 15 minutes plus chilling time.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta & Vegetables

1 lb dried rotini pasta, cooked
2 cups arugula
1 bell pepper, diced
1 red onion, diced
1 cucumber, seeded and diced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (12 oz) jar artichoke hearts in water, drained and diced

Herbs & Cheese

1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
⅓ cup basil, finely chopped
⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped

Dressing

1 ¼ cups Italian dressing
Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta quickly.
Chop the Vegetables and Herbs: While the pasta cooks, dice the bell pepper, red onion, seeded cucumber, and halve the cherry tomatoes. Drain and chop the artichoke hearts. Finely chop the basil and parsley.
Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked pasta, arugula, diced vegetables, artichoke hearts, herbs, and crumbled feta cheese.
Add Dressing and Toss: Pour the Italian dressing over the salad ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Toss everything gently until well combined.
Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly.

Notes

Use cold water to rinse pasta to prevent it from sticking and to cool it quickly.
Adjust vegetables and herbs to your preference or what’s seasonal and fresh.
For a vegan version, substitute feta cheese with a plant-based alternative.
Make sure to drain the artichoke hearts well to avoid watering down the salad.
Chilling time is important but you can also serve immediately if short on time.