This incredibly easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe combines simple ingredients like diced, juicy tomatoes, olives, capers, and fresh garlic to create a big flavor salad.
About This Pasta Salad Recipe
This easy pasta salad is unique because you can enjoy it both hot and cold! It works great as a pasta salad for lunch at home or on the go. It's also perfect as a buffet salad for parties, barbecues, and potlucks.
This salad is unique because hot or cold it is equally enjoyable.
It's the kind of salad/pasta recipe that fully unfolds its flavors if you keep it stored overnight.
Ingredients for this Easy Pasta Salad
- Pasta of your choice (this fusilli pasta works great)
- Can of Diced Tomatoes
- Kalamata Olives
- Capers. I love Trader Joe's Nonpareille Capers
- fresh Garlic
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
How To Make This Recipe
- Slice kalamata olives, and mince fresh garlic.
- Use a large bowl to combine diced tomatoes, olives, capers, garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Allow the ingredients to sit and marinate for 30 minutes.
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Add pasta to the sauce and make sure the pasta is well coated.
Recipe Success
Technically speaking this recipe is a hybrid between a hot pasta dish or a cold pasta salad. Yes, you can serve this easy salad both hot and cold. It's perfect as both a main and side dish.
Generally, it's best to prep this salad a day before serving. This allows the flavors to thoroughly infuse the pasta.
Tips for Serving This Salad
- When you are ready to serve this Mediterranean pasta salad, remove it from the fridge and allow it to sit until it rises to room temperature.
- Alternatively, you can reheat the pasta dish either on the stove or in the microwave and serve it hot. It works both ways.
- If you are serving this easy pasta salad for a crowd, you'll probably want to reduce the number of garlic cloves from three to one.
Tips For Cooking The Pasta
When you are cooking the pasta, bring the cold water to a boil first. After that add a bit of oil to the water and about a tablespoon of salt.
Especially for pasta salads, I recommend cooking the pasta al dente.
Additional Toppings
One of the great things about making this salad is that you can easily add or substitute ingredients. All of these ingredients will work great with this recipe:
- artichoke hearts
- sun-dried tomatoes
- feta cheese
- salami
- roasted salmon
- shrimp
- grilled chicken
- roasted vegetables
Shop This Recipe
- Garlic Press. Hands down one of my favorite kitchen tools. If you cook with a lot of garlic, this tool is a must.
- Serving Bowl. Perfect for serving pasta or salads.
- Pasta Bowls. There are a lot of great sets. This one is affordable and I like the clean look.
- Pasta Pot. Having a good pasta pot is key.
- Wooden Cooking Utensils
More Salad Ideas
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound fusilli pasta
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup Kalamata olives sliced
- 3 tablespoons capers
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
- Combine tomatoes, sliced olives, capers, minced garlic, olive oil, and crushed red pepper flakes into large pasta or salad bowl. Allow the sauce to rest for about 15-30 minutes.
- Add the pasta to the sauce and coat well. Serve and enjoy.