Healthy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Give your tastebuds a Mediterranean treat! Something I love about Mediterranean food is the variety in flavours, which somehow blend together beautifully. This is a really simple salad you can make quickly, and the dressing for this Mediterranean Pasta Salad is amazing!

These Falafel Balls with Yoghurt Dip are another healthy Mediterranean dish you can make at home — ideal for a get-together with friends!

Healthy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 25 mins
Serves: 1
Dietary preferences: Vegetarian, Nut-free, Gluten-free option

Ingredients:

• 60g wholemeal pasta or gluten-free pasta
• ½ medium cucumber, chopped
• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 kalamata olives, pitted and halved
• ¼ small red onion, finely sliced
• ¼ medium green capsicum, diced
• 4-5 fresh basil leaves, julienned
• 30g low-fat salt-reduced feta cheese, crumbled

Dressing

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• pinch of dried oregano
• ½ tsp lemon juice
• ½ garlic clove, crushed
• sea salt and ground black pepper, to taste
   

Method:

1. Fill a large saucepan with water, add a pinch of salt and bring to the boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (see the pasta packet for the recommended cooking time). Drain and refresh under cool running water. Set aside to cool. To save time, the pasta can be cooked the night before and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
 
2. To make the dressing, whisk the oil, vinegar, oregano, lemon juice, garlic, salt and pepper together in a small bowl.
 
3. Place the pasta, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, onion, capsicum, basil leaves and half of the feta in a mixing bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
 
4. To serve, place the Mediterranean Pasta Salad in a serving bowl and sprinkle over the remaining feta. Enjoy!