Mediterranean Pasta Salad With Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette

Mediterranean Pasta Salad With Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette

Nothing says summer like a really good pasta salad. Quick and simple to make, all you need is pasta, an abundance of fresh vegetables, and a really good flavourful vinaigrette. Pasta salad is perfect for a light summer lunch, or for dinner as a side dish to anything grilled, and of course it makes a delicious addition to any summer picnic or potluck.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad with a Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette is a delectable combination of textures and flavours.

It starts with perfectly el dente pasta and a rich, earthy vinaigrette made with sundried tomatoes.  The salad has an abundance of sweet cherry tomatoes, fruity Kalamata olives and creamy bocconcini. Radicchio adds a hint of bitterness, while crisp cucumbers provide some crunch.

The Vinaigrette

The intense sweet-tart flavour of the sundried tomatoes really shines through in this simple vinaigrette.

The sundried tomatoes are combined with a little Dijon mustard, oil, and vinegar to make a rich earthy dressing with hints of garlic, oregano, basil, and a bit of brininess from some capers.

To make the dressing, pop all the ingredients into a blender to combine, puree until silky smooth, or leave a little chunky as I like to do.


Mediterranean Pasta Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette

Intense, sweet-tart sundried tomatoes flavour the vinaigrette in this quick and simple Mediterranean style pasta salad.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Course: lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: bocconcini, summer salads, sundried tomatoes
Servings: 6
Calories: 554kcal

Equipment

  • Blender
  • large pot

Ingredients

Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette

  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • ¼ cup sundried tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp oil from the sundried tomatoes
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • cup olive oil
  • 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
  • 1 tsp caper berries
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ cup fresh basil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Pasta Salad

  • 454 grams dried fusilli (rotini) pasta (or substitute penne, farfalle)
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes ( cut any larger ones in half)
  • 1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
  • 1 cup cucumber, sliced and cut in half
  • cups mini bocconcini, halved
  • 2 cup shredded or chopped radicchio
  • fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

Prepare the sundried tomato vinaigrette

  • Place all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette except the salt and pepper into a blender. Puree until still a bit chunky, or perfectly smooth if you prefer. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
    Set aside while you prepare the salad.

Prepare the pasta salad

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until el dente, about 7 minutes. Drain well and place in a large salad bowl.
    While the pasta is still warm, add ⅔ of the dressing and toss until the pasta is evenly coated with the dressing. Set aside to come to room temperature.
  • Add the cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumber, radicchio and bocconcini to the pasta and toss. Add the remaining dressing as needed.
  • Serve garnished with fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 554kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 403mg | Potassium: 527mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!