Healthy Greek Pasta Salad Flavorful and Nutritious Dish

Ingredients

• 8 oz whole wheat pasta (penne or fusilli)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 whole cucumber, diced
• 1 whole bell pepper (red or yellow), diced
• 0.5 whole red onion, finely chopped
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• to taste salt and pepper

Instructions

1. In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the whole wheat pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool it down.
2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the vegetables. In a large mixing bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, and sliced olives.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, salt, and pepper to create the dressing. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
4. Once the pasta has cooled, add it to the bowl with the vegetables. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, and toss gently to combine everything thoroughly.
5. Finally, fold in the crumbled feta cheese and chopped fresh parsley, being careful not to break the feta too much.
6. Allow the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This will let the flavors meld together beautifully. Stir before serving.