It's nice to have an easy summer meal to rely on. This is one of those busy day meals for our family. It is cold and refreshing, can be made ahead or at the last minute, and takes advantage of some of that fresh garden produce. A bottle of store-bought dressing makes it quick to throw together.
Busy Day
MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD
1 pound bow tie pasta
1 unpeeled cucumber
1 large tomato
1 6-oz can medium pitted black olives
Caesar vinaigrette salad dressing
Parmesan cheese (optional)
***
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Chill in ice water and drain again.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Chill in ice water and drain again.
Cut cucumber lengthwise in quarters; slice each quarter into bite-sized pieces. Dice tomato. Drain olives.
Toss pasta, cucumber, tomato, and olives together in large bowl. Add dressing to your taste.
Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.
NOTES:
- I used this dressing, but you could use one of your choice. Greek or Italian would be good too.
- We often eat this as a main dish, adding grilled or baked chicken, or salami.
Do you have a busy day meal for the summer?
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Looking for a recipe from another week?
Week 1: Marinade for Chicken
Week 2: Black Bean Salad
Week 3: Cappuccino Pops
Week 4: Roasted Sausage and Vegetable Pasta
Week 5: Easy-Freezy Vanilla Ice Cream
Week 6: Farm Fresh Corn Chowder
Or last year?
Fruit on Tuesday Week 7: Vickie's Frozen Fruit
Or two years ago?
Salad on Tuesday Week 7: BLT Chicken Salad
I wish I liked olives….
ReplyDeleteThe rest of this sounds great, and I could easily substitute something for the olives.
Quick for us is tacos, or BLT's. We can have a salad and grilled chicken on the table in no time, too!
Deanna
Looks easy enough! We love Mediterranean-inspired food. I am drooling now. A cuke, tomato, olive combo is so good! My hubby was like a kid in a candy shop when he saw the olive bar at Whole Foods.
ReplyDeleteLove those easy meals! And the duke, olive, tomato--what we had for breakfast each day when we were in Turkey. Yes, Mediterranean!
ReplyDeleteI love that kind of meal, especially accompanied by chicken off the grill. Yum!! Have a wonderful day Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't and I need one. This looks so delicious to me. Maybe, because I've had no breakfast. Hmmm... John is on a pancakes kick so we have had them way too often this week. I'm embarrassed to say how often. I think I'd better thaw some chicken stat. Ha!
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh....that picture just makes my mouth water. What an easy recipe. Thanks for the tip on the salad dressing.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day today,
Balisha
I love salads like this and could eat them everyday, just wish my family liked them as much, too! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteOh yum...I love me some pasta salad and this looks awesome! Adding the cucumbers I'm sure gives an extra crunch and freshness. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious. Last night I made a couple of salads (tomato avocado, and one with all kinds of mixed vegetables) and then we grilled turkey dinner sausages and zucchini. All took about 30 minutes to put together. And no kitchen heat!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, yes, I'd throw some chicken on there and call it dinner! What a refreshing summer meal!
ReplyDeleteaww... I can't tell you how peasant it has been to scroll through many of your recent posts to catch up on what I have missed. You truly have a wonderful blog! Congratulations on the new arrival of a new baby your family will be celebrating :) Loved the essay by your son about his PopPop. And, I look forward to making your corn chowder!
ReplyDeleteMy mouth watered just looking at that salad...
ReplyDeleteYour salad looks colorful and scrumptious, a perfect summer dish. We eat Italian salads frequently with lots of olives, garden veggies, and cheese. I use jarred roasted red pepper in them, too - a luxury. My husband loves fresh basil tossed in.
ReplyDelete