# Present the Finest Garden-Fresh Vegetables with Delicate Pasta Mixed in a Zesty Dressing featuring Feta Cheese and Fresh Herbs
This delightful Summer Pasta Salad recipe is a lively and invigorating dish that showcases the finest garden-fresh vegetables of the summer season. With delicate pasta mixed in a zesty dressing, enriched by creamy feta cheese and vibrant herbs, this salad is ideal for any warm-weather occasion.
## Flavor Profile
The salad boasts a fresh and zesty taste, thanks to a tangy vinaigrette that pairs wonderfully with the sweet corn, succulent tomatoes, and crunchy vegetables. The creamy feta cheese contributes a lovely salty contrast, ensuring each bite is bursting with flavor.
## Skill Level
This recipe is created to be straightforward, making it perfect for all skill levels, from novice cooks to experienced home chefs.
## Preparation Tips
– **Make Ahead**: You can prepare the salad and dressing up to a day in advance. Just keep it chilled until you’re ready to dress and serve.
– **Budget-Friendly**: Feel free to incorporate leftover vegetables and cheese from your fridge to enhance the recipe without overspending.
– **Serving Suggestions**: To transform it into a main course, consider adding diced salami, tuna, salmon, or leftover chicken.
## Ingredient Tips for Summer Pasta Salad
– **Pasta**: Opt for firmer pasta types such as rotini, bowtie, cavatappi, or penne. Cooking it to ‘al dente’ ensures it maintains its integrity alongside the other ingredients.
– **Vegetables**: Utilize a variety of vibrant vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, corn, and radishes. You can also use frozen mixed vegetables for convenience.
– **Cheese**: Hard cheeses such as feta, parmesan, or blue cheese crumbles contribute a salty essence. For a dairy-free option, simply omit the cheese.
– **Dressing**: A traditional vinaigrette made with oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and herbs is ideal. You can personalize it with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, or cilantro. If short on time, a ready-made Italian or Greek vinaigrette is an excellent substitute.
– **Variations**: Elevate your salad with additions like sliced black olives, pepperoncini, jalapenos, sundried tomatoes, or artichoke hearts.
## Storing Summer Pasta Salad
Store the summer pasta salad in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Before serving leftovers, stir and adjust seasonings as necessary.
**Pro Tip**: It’s not advisable to freeze pasta-based dishes, as they don’t thaw well compared to fresh. This recipe is quick and easy enough to make fresh each time.
## Recipe Overview
### Summer Pasta Salad
**Prep Time**: 20 minutes
**Cook Time**: 15 minutes
**Total Time**: 35 minutes
**Servings**: 8
### Ingredients
– Pasta (rotini, bowtie, cavatappi, or penne)
– Fresh vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, corn, radishes)
– Feta cheese
– Dressing ingredients (vegetable oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper)
### Instructions
1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking.
2. In a mason jar, mix vegetable oil, vinegar, mustard, sugar, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Shake well to blend.
3. In a large bowl, combine the pasta, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, carrots, corn, radishes, and feta. Toss to blend. Garnish with additional feta cheese and herbs if desired.
### Nutrition Information (per serving)
– Calories: 304
– Carbohydrates: 30g
– Protein: 7g
– Fat: 17g
– Saturated Fat: 3g
– Cholesterol: 8mg
– Sodium: 145mg
– Potassium: 336mg
– Fiber: 2g
– Sugar: 4g
– Vitamin A: 2300 IU
– Vitamin C: 37.8 mg
– Calcium: 80 mg
– Iron: 1.2 mg
This Summer Pasta Salad is not only visually appealing with its bright colors but also a delicious dish that embraces the tastes of summer. Savor this refreshing salad at your next gathering or as a light meal on a warm day!