Greek Pasta Salad

A simple and refreshing salad with crisp vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and flavorful olives, tossed in a homemade Greek dressing. This salad is perfect for a light lunch, a side dish, or a potluck.

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1 English cucumber, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 4 oz feta cheese, cubed or crumbled

Greek Dressing

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large salad bowl, toss the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, parsley, and olives together.
2. In a small jar with a tight lid, shake the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
4. Sprinkle the feta cheese on top of the salad and serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Tips and Variations

• You can use any kind of tomatoes you like, but make sure they are ripe and juicy. Cherry tomatoes can also work well in this salad.
• You can use any kind of cucumber you like, but English cucumbers have thin skins and fewer seeds, so they are ideal for salads. You can peel them or leave them unpeeled.
• You can use any color of bell pepper you like, but green bell peppers are more traditional in Greek salads. You can also add some sliced banana peppers for some heat.
• You can use any kind of onion you like, but red onion adds a nice color and flavor contrast to the salad. You can also soak the onion slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow their bite.
• You can use any kind of fresh herbs you like, but parsley is the most common in Greek salads. You can also add some fresh mint or basil for some extra freshness.
• You can use any kind of olives you like, but kalamata olives are the most authentic and flavorful in Greek salads. You can also add some capers for some extra tanginess.
• You can use any kind of feta cheese you like, but sheep’s milk feta is the creamiest and most delicious in Greek salads. You can also substitute goat cheese or vegan cheese if you prefer.