Description
A refreshing and tangy pasta salad that combines the bold flavors of a dirty martini cocktail with al dente pasta, briny olives, and creamy cheese for a unique and sophisticated side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ pound pasta of choice
- 1 cup pitted large green olives, roughly chopped
- 100 g feta cheese, cubed (or blue cheese crumbles)
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup olive brine
- 1 clove fresh minced garlic
- 1 lemon
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Cook the pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Once the pasta reaches al dente texture, drain it thoroughly and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. This prevents the pasta from becoming mushy and helps maintain its structure for the salad.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small mason jar, combine the olive oil, olive brine, minced garlic, zest of half the lemon, juice of ¼ lemon, and a generous amount of black pepper. Close the jar tightly and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined and emulsified. This creates a tangy, aromatic dressing that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
- Assemble the salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, roughly chopped green olives, and feta cheese cubes. Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients. Gently toss everything together until all components are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning by adding more pepper, lemon juice, or salt if needed to achieve your preferred flavor balance.
Notes
- For the best flavor, refrigerate this pasta salad for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together. The salad can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance, making it perfect for meal prep or entertaining. If making ahead, you might want to reserve a small amount of dressing to refresh the salad just before serving. For a more intense flavor profile, consider adding some capers or pickled vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salads
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-American Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 22mg