Lemon Pasta Salad (Printable)

A vibrant Mediterranean-style salad with zesty lemon dressing, crisp vegetables, and tender pasta, ideal for outdoor gatherings and light meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
06 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

→ Cheese (optional)

07 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Lemon Dressing

08 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
10 - 1 tsp lemon zest
11 - 1 garlic clove, minced
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1/2 tsp honey or maple syrup
14 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta.
02 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
03 - Place cooled pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, chopped red onion, parsley, and basil.
04 - Pour the lemon dressing over the pasta and vegetables. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the salad and toss lightly. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon dressing actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a day
  • You can throw in whatever vegetables are wilting in your crisper drawer
  • It travels beautifully and never gets soggy like mayonnaise based salads
02 -
  • Rinsing pasta with cold water stops the cooking and washes away starch that would make it gummy
  • The salad needs at least thirty minutes in the fridge for the flavors to really marry
  • Red onion can overpower everything, so use less if you're sensitive to that raw onion bite
03 -
  • If making ahead, store the dressing separately and toss right before serving
  • Toast some pine nuts or sunflower seeds for crunch that holds up overnight

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