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An amazing pasta dish for moms and wives on the go! This means more time to do what’s important to you. Mediterranean Pasta is an easy, quick-make dish that combines tangy Kalamata olives, sweet cherry tomatoes, and creamy feta cheese, all brought together with a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of zesty lemon juice, finished with a sprinkle of oregano and fresh basil leaves.
Vibrant Mediterranean Pasta: Your New Go-To Dish
Mediterranean pasta will be your new best friend indeed. It is an easy, delicious, and protein-packed dish. It is my go-to when I am in a hurry. You can use any pasta you like, but my favorite is rotini. It perfectly holds the dressing and makes every bite extra flavorful.
I recall a time when my brothers visited me in Michigan for a quick trip. With little time to spare, I needed a fast yet delicious meal, and Mediterranean pasta was the perfect solution.
The dish came together in no time, and they absolutely loved it. When another brother showed up, I had to make a second batch. Thankfully, I had already prepped most of the ingredients—the tomatoes were chopped, and the olives were ready. Within ten minutes, I had whipped up another serving. They devoured it, enjoying every bite.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Cooking method: Boiling and mixing
Skill required: Easy
Signature Taste: Savory
Diet Info: Vegetarian
Why Make this Mediterranean Pasta
We all know that pasta is already a common homemade food. This is because it’s easy and versatile. You can turn different kinds of pasta into salads, hearty meals, and light lunches. Pasta is one of those ingredients that you know you can play around with and not worry too much about the result.
Quick and Easy: Great for busy evenings, this simple dish uses ready pasta, slashing cooking time by almost 90%, and requires just a handful of pantry essentials you likely already have.
Delicious and Nutritious: It’s a zesty pasta salad that’s delicious and nutritious. It bursts with flavors and is packed with protein from the feta cheese. The dressing is a classic Mediterranean blend that is incredibly filling.
Versatile and Customizable: You can customize the Mediterranean pasta to your taste. You can add meat like chicken and shrimp. You can also change the vegetables depending on your liking or on what is available in your pantry. The dressing goes perfectly well with pasta salad and green salads as well! Check the variations.
Rich and Delicious
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you remove the feta cheese, then yes! You can also use vegan feta instead.
No, you can use any pasta you wish to use like stove-top cooked pasta.
Yes, sure. Use gluten-free pasta made from rice, quinoa, or chickpeas.
Pro Tips for the Mediterranean Pasta
You don’t necessarily have to use Ready Pasta. You can use any pasta you wish and cook it stove top like you normally would. Make sure you cook it al dente. This will make pasta retain a pleasant texture without getting mushy after adding the rest of the ingredients.
Mediterranean pasta salad is versatile and perfect to make ahead of time for lunches and meal preps. You can pit Kalamata olives, chop the cherry tomatoes, and crumble the feta cheese in advance. This will ensure smooth preparation.
It is better to serve the Mediterranean pasta fresh and warm. If you want to prepare it ahead of time, keep the ingredients separated and combine them upon serving.
Variations on Mediterranean Pasta
Mediterranean pasta is a really special dish. What makes it even better is that it is customizable. Adding your personal touch not only adds variety and nutrition, but also enhances the overall state and structure. Here are some ideas.
Veggies Delight: Make your dish more vibrant by adding some veggies. Toss in some artichoke hearts, cucumbers, colored bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, or lightly sauteed asparagus.
Protein-Packed Variation: For an extra protein share you can add grilled chicken breast slices. They perfectly complement the olives and feta. You can also toss in some sauteed shrimp to enjoy a seafood twist.
Spicy Mediterranean Pasta: If you love spicy food, you can add some crushed red pepper flakes or slices of spicy chorizo. You will love the chili kick in your pasta dish.
Creamy Pasta: For an extra Mediterranean touch, you can add a dollop of Greek yogurt or a splash of heavy cream for a creamier dressing.
Pesto Pasta: A spoonful of basil pesto adds an extra burst of flavor that perfectly blends with the existing ingredients.
Serving Mediterranean Pasta
The Mediterranean Pasta is delightful on its own, but you can also enjoy it with different dishes. Cucumber Avocado Salad Recipe or Avocado Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing pair with this pasta salad. Homemade Tzatziki Sauce (Greek Yogurt and Cucumber) is another good choice.
For additional protein, you can pair it with Easy Shrimp Stir Fry or Best Chicken Finger Dipping Sauce. Add more veggies by serving Cooked and Seasoned Boiled Asparagus Layered Hummus Veggie Dip Recipe. How about Balsamic Goat Cheese Kale and Mushroom Pizza? The ideas are endless!
Storage Tips
Refrigeration: It is hard to have leftovers of this pasta salad, but if you do, you can keep them in an airtight container to keep it fresh. It can be stored for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing: If you want to freeze it for longer, store them in freezer-safe containers. They can be stored for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating: Upon serving stored Mediterranean Pasta, reheat it over medium heat after adding a splash of olive oil to keep it from drying out. You can also use the microwave stirring occasionally until heated through.
Vibrant Colors, Fresh Ingredients
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Ready to enjoy the simplicity and delight of Mediterranean Pasta? It is not any paste. It is a quick and flavorful meal that is perfect for your busy lifestyle.
Ingredients
- Ready Pasta Rotini or any pasta
- Kalamata olives, pitted
- cherry tomatoes
- feta cheese
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- oregano seasoning
- fresh basil for garnish
- salt to taste
Check the recipe card for quantities.
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Mediterranean Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 8.5 oz Pasta Rotini, or any pasta
- 3 tablespoons black Kalamata olives pitted
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 2 tablespoons feta cheese
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon oregano seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- To make the dressing, whisk together in a small bowl the olive oil, lemon, salt, and dried oregano then set aside.
- Microwave the Ready Pasta Rotini or cook al dente any kind of pasta following the instructions, cut open the bag then place in a shallow plate or bowl.
- Pour over the dressing and mix until pasta is well coated.
- Top the pasta with cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, fresh basil and garnish a sprinkle of dried oregano.
Amazing! My boys loved it. It’s also so easy to make.