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Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

Sun-dried tomato pasta salad with rotini, spinach, feta, and Kalamata olives in a quick herb vinaigrette. Chilled for at least 1 hour so the flavors soak in without breaking up the feta.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb rotini or penne pasta
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
  • 8 oz feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 cup fresh spinach, chopped
  • 0.5 cup Kalamata olives, sliced
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 2 garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

Cook and cool the pasta
  1. Cook the rotini or penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water until fully cool, using a clear visual of no steam or warmth.
Make the herb vinaigrette
  1. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper until the mixture looks uniform and glossy. Keep whisking for about 30 seconds so the garlic disperses evenly.
Assemble the pasta salad
  1. Combine the cooled pasta with chopped sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta, chopped spinach, and sliced Kalamata olives in a large bowl. Gently fold so the feta stays in soft, visible crumbles.
Dress and chill
  1. Pour the herb vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently just until evenly coated. Stop when you can no longer see dry pasta, but avoid aggressive stirring that breaks up the feta too much.
Refrigerate and finish
  1. Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour before serving. You should see the dressing thicken slightly and cling to pasta and spinach.
  2. Right before serving, toss again and adjust seasoning with more salt and pepper if needed. Taste and look for balanced flavor, with feta still visible and spinach bright green.

Notes

Pro tip: Rinse the pasta well after draining so it chills quickly and doesn’t clump—then toss gently to keep feta in distinct crumbles. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freezer not recommended. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat feta (the vinaigrette still clings well).