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    Home » Healthy Salad Recipes » Summer Veggie Pasta Salad with Feta Dressing

    Summer Veggie Pasta Salad with Feta Dressing

    Published: May 18, 2021 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 5 Comments

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    This vegetarian Summer Veggie Pasta Salad with the best creamy pasta salad dressing is perfect for potluck or bbq parties. Tossed with a creamy yogurt-based feta dressing, this summer side dish will feed a happy crowd. This post includes tips for making the best cold pasta salad!

    Pasta Salad with broccoli, tomatoes and zucchini in a bowl

    Brighten up your day with this fresh Summer Veggie Pasta Salad!

    Jump to:
    • ❤️Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 👍🏼 Tips for making the best pasta salad
    • ❓FAQ's
    • 🔁 Make it your own!
    • 🗒 More summer salad ideas
    • 📖 Recipe

    ❤️Why this recipe works

    • What's summer without a pasta salad or two? A cold pasta salad is always popular at a summer party. It's the one you go back to for seconds! This one is chock-a-block full of healthy garden and farmers' market veggies.
    • While pasta salads can sometimes be bland, this one has a bold feta dressing that is anything but boring!
    • This vegetarian pasta salad is simply the best! This is an easy recipe to which you can add your own twist. Make it your own! Add your favourite garden veggies and herbs (basil is always a good choice.)

    But be sure to follow the tips below to make it extra specially delicious!

    close up view of a bowl of pasta salad with servers

    Once the warm weather arrives, my healthy salad recipes come out in full force!

    From melon salads, like my Greek Watermelon Basil Salad and this easy Cantaloupe Arugula Salad with Poppyseed Dressing to heartier salads like Italian Potato Salad with Pickled Shallots, every summer meal has a fresh salad.

    Ready to make a shopping list for this feta pasta salad?

    🛒 Ingredients

    Ingredients for Veggie Pasta Salad

    Choose a regular or gluten-free pasta (there are Iots of fun shapes like bow tie pasta available) and fill up your salad with:

    • crisp bell peppers: one of each colour is fun
    • zucchini: green or yellow, or both
    • broccoli: blanched and shocked (or just cut the florets very small and leave it raw)
    • tomatoes: cherry tomatoes
    • onions: red or green, or some of each
    • parsley
    A bowl of yogurt feta dressing next to a bowl of veggies

    Then toss it all together with the simplest, creamiest, best pasta salad dressing! This Yogurt-Feta Dressing is made with:

    • feta cheese: add half to the dressing and crumble the remaining half on the finished salad.
    • Greek yogurt
    • olive oil, lemon juice and freshly ground pepper

    👍🏼 Tips for making the best pasta salad

    1. Cut all the vegetables into bite-sized pieces so this salad is easy to serve and easy to eat.
    2. Salt the pasta cooking water generously. Just for once, disregard all those warnings about too much salt in your diet. I learned this tip from an Italian mama years ago. It really will make a difference to the flavour of your pasta!
    3. Blanch and shock the broccoli. Place the broccoli florets in boiling water for 2 minutes until they turn bright green and have softened slightly. Then immediately remove them from the hot water and transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and pat dry with a clean tea towel or paper towel before adding to the salad. (Or if you're short of time, cut the broccoli florets very small and leave them raw.)
    4. If making this salad ahead of time, toss the veggies and the pasta with the dressing to allow the pasta to soak up the flavours. If you are using gluten-free pasta, it does not hold up as well, so you'll want to toss it just before serving.
    5. Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. More salt? A few generous grinds of black pepper? A squeeze of fresh lemon juice?

    ❓FAQ's

    Do I need to rinse the pasta?

    Yes, absolutely you do. Remember:  Rinse for pasta salad, don't rinse for hot pasta with sauce. This article explains why. You want to remove the starchy film for pasta salad, but keep it when you're serving pasta hot, so the sauce clings to the pasta.

    Rinsing will stop the cooking and help the pasta retain its shape. A quick 30-second rinse in cold water will help to remove the starch and prevent the pasta from becoming gummy and sticking together.

    If you'd like, after rinsing and draining, give the pasta a quick toss with a tablespoon or so of olive oil to add flavour and keep the pieces from sticking.

    Can I make it ahead of time?

    Yes! Pasta salad is often best on the second day, once the dressing has had a chance to blend with the pasta. It will last covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. However, if you've made it with gluten-free pasta, it will not hold up as well. Some brands of gluten-free pasta tend to become mushy the following day.

    🔁 Make it your own!

    • Vary the dressing. Cold pasta salad is always good with a simple Italian dressing.
    • Add your own garden veggies: cucumbers, radishes, blanched and shocked cauliflower florets, tiny asparagus spears.
    • Use the herbs you love:  try basil or fresh oregano.
    • Add cooked sliced spicy Italian sausage.

    Looking for more summer salad ideas? Check this collection of over 20 Best Summer Salad Recipes - Ideas for Potlucks.

    🗒 More summer salad ideas

    • Greek chicken Cobb Salad ingredients in rows on a large white platter.
      Greek Chicken Cobb Salad - Family Style
    • Arugula Pear and Parmesan salad in an oval bowl with a small bowl of maple walnuts beside.
      Arugula Pear and Parmesan Salad with Maple Walnuts
    • Overhead view of carrot salad with cranberries and sunflower seeds in a shallow bowl.
      Raw Carrot Salad with Honey-Dijon Dressing
    • A bowl of broccoli quinoa salad with grapes and walnuts.
      Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sesame Miso Dressing

    When you make this pasta salad, please leave a comment and a star rating below. Thanks in advance! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.

    📖 Recipe

    Summer Veggie Pasta Salad close up view

    Summer Veggie Pasta Salad with Feta Dressing

    This vegetarian Summer Veggie Pasta Salad with Creamy Feta Dressing is perfect for potluck or bbq parties. Easy and always popular.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salads and Dressings, Side Dish
    Cuisine: North American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 22 minutes
    Total Time: 37 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 323kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 18 oz pasta, gluten-free if necessary.
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
    • 1 medium zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups)
    • 1 large head broccoli, chopped into small florets (about 4 cups)
    • 3 bell peppers, 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 orange
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, or grape tomatoes
    • ¼ med red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
    • ¼ cup parsley, finely chopped

    Feta Yogurt Dressing

    • 1 cup Greek yogurt
    • 200 grams feta cheese, divided
    • 2 tablespoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    Yogurt-Feta Dressing

    • In a mini food processor or jar, combine 1 cup yogurt with half the feta cheese, olive oil, and pepper. Reserve the remaining feta to crumble on top of the salad.

    Summer Veggie Pasta Salad

    • Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water, according to package directions. Drain, then rinse in cold water for 30 seconds or until pasta is no longer warm. Toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
    • While pasta is cooking, boil water in a large saucepan. Set up an ice bath: a large bowl of water and ice cubes. Cook the broccoli in the boiling water for 2 minutes, or until it has turned bright green and has softened slightly. Remove from heat, drain, then transfer the florets to the ice bath to cool completely. Drain, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
    • Combine the cooled pasta and prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl. Toss with Yogurt- Feta Dressing, sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley. Serve or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
    • Toss with Yogurt- Feta Dressing, sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley.
    • Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. More salt? A few generous grinds of black pepper? A squeeze of fresh lemon juice? Serve or refrigerate for up to 5 days.

    Notes

    Rinsing the pasta will stop the cooking and help it to retain its shape. A quick 30-second rinse in cold water will help to remove the starch and prevent the pasta from becoming gummy and sticking together.
    If you'd like, after rinsing and draining, give the pasta a quick toss with a tablespoon or so of olive oil to add flavour and keep the pieces from sticking.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 261mg | Potassium: 486mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1832IU | Vitamin C: 109mg | Calcium: 174mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Fiona

      June 30, 2021 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      Made this last weekend. Everyone loved the dressing! Thanks.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        June 30, 2021 at 11:30 am

        You're welcome!

        Reply
    2. Dierdre

      August 08, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      I make pasta salads all the time, but OMG I tried this feta dressing and it is the BOMB! Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        August 08, 2019 at 5:24 pm

        Thanks Dierdre!
        We love that dressing too! It takes a pasta salad from ho-hum to fabulous!Thanks so much for rating it and letting me know!

        Reply
    3. sheenam @ thetwincookingproject

      July 31, 2019 at 5:44 am

      i love a good summer pasta salad. this looks amazing.

      Reply

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    Gluten-free Made Easy!

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