Description
A light and refreshing angel hair pasta salad perfect for a quick and easy summer meal. This salad combines tender angel hair pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, red onion, olives, and optional creamy feta cheese, all tossed in a zesty olive oil and lemon dressing with fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup black olives, sliced
Cheese & Herbs
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add angel hair pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 3-4 minutes. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool it down.
- Prepare Pasta Pieces: Once cooled, cut the angel hair pasta into shorter, manageable pieces to make mixing and eating easier.
- Combine Vegetables: In a large salad bowl, add the cut pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and sliced black olives. Toss gently to combine.
- Add Cheese and Herbs: Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and freshly chopped basil or parsley over the salad and mix lightly.
- Make Dressing: Drizzle olive oil and lemon juice or vinegar evenly over the salad. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Toss and Serve: Toss the salad thoroughly but gently to ensure all ingredients are well coated with the dressing. Serve immediately or chill for 15-30 minutes to enhance flavors.
Notes
- For a vegan option, omit the feta cheese or substitute with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley for the best flavor.
- Make sure to rinse pasta under cold water after cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy and to cool it for the salad.
- Can be prepared a few hours in advance and stored in the refrigerator to allow flavors to meld.
- Add a protein like grilled chicken or chickpeas to make it a more filling meal.
