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Easy Valentine's Day Pasta Salad

Easy Valentine's Day Pasta Salad

The ultimate no-fuss, delightfully charming dish perfect for celebrating love without the stress. This recipe offers a quick and delicious way to impress your loved ones, making it an ideal choice for any Valentine's Day gathering, big or small.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Salad
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound rotini pasta (or fusilli, farfalle)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives pitted and halved
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil drained and chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 4 ounces feta cheese crumbled
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
Dressing
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Colander
  • Small bowl or jar
  • Large mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. For a slightly firmer bite, aim for the shorter end of the cooking time. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly in a colander and rinse it with cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent the pasta from sticking together. Set aside.
    1 pound rotini pasta
  2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare your salad components. Halve the cherry tomatoes, pit and halve the Kalamata olives, and drain and chop the sun-dried tomatoes. Finely dice the red onion to ensure even distribution of flavor. Chop the fresh basil and parsley – using fresh herbs will elevate the salad's aroma and taste significantly.
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, 1/4 cup red onion, 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  3. In a small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing is well emulsified and all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
    1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked and cooled rotini pasta, halved cherry tomatoes, halved Kalamata olives, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped basil, chopped parsley, crumbled feta cheese, and finely diced red onion.
    1 pound rotini pasta, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, 1/4 cup fresh parsley, 4 ounces feta cheese, 1/4 cup red onion
  5. Pour the prepared balsamic vinaigrette over the pasta and vegetable mixture. Gently toss everything together to ensure all the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
  6. For the best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate the Easy Valentine's Day Pasta Salad for at least 15-30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. This also ensures the salad is served nice and cool. When ready to serve, give it another gentle toss.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Pasta salads are not recommended for freezing.