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Chilled Pasta Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette (No Mayo!)

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • Pasta Salad:
  • 12 oz 340g rotini, fusilli, or farfalle pasta
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 English cucumber diced
  • ½ red onion finely diced
  • 1 cup roasted red peppers sliced
  • ½ cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes roughly chopped
  • 4 oz 115g feta cheese, crumbled
  • ¼ cup fresh basil torn
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
  • Lemon Vinaigrette:
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice about 2 lemons
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup optional
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water immediately.
  • Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, and oregano. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, chop red onion, slice roasted peppers, and chop sun-dried tomatoes.
  • In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta, all vegetables, and olives. Pour three-quarters of the vinaigrette over the top and toss to coat.
  • Gently fold in crumbled feta, torn basil, and chopped parsley.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Before serving, drizzle remaining vinaigrette and toss. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or lemon juice. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.

Notes

  • Always salt pasta water generously for well-seasoned pasta
  • Rinse pasta in cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping
  • Reserve a portion of dressing — pasta absorbs liquid as it chills
  • Taste and re-season after chilling, as cold dulls flavors
  • Make ahead up to 1 day in advance; best served within 3 days
  • Add shredded chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas for a protein boost
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days