The hot weather calls for a cold dish and I don't think one fits any better than pasta salad. When the weather gets hot I want to eat something cold and I want it to be easy to make. Pasta salad hits all those notes. On top of that, it's filling and so tasty. My take on pasta salad is a Mediterranean combination of Greek and Italian elements. The best of both incredible worlds. When you need something quick to take with you to the park or beach, look no further. This is it.

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Easy, Tangy, and Filling

This pasta salad is:

• easy to make
• full of robust flavors
• amazing for spring and summer

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Why pasta salad is the perfect summer dish.

When I think summer, I think ease. That's especially true when it comes to food. When we go to the beaches and parks, I just want something I can whip up that will be easy to make and easier to eat. Pasta salad is exactly that. It's eaten cold which also helps with the summer heat. Those are a few reasons why I think it's a perfect summer dish. What makes a perfect pasta salad?

• Veggies: Though pasta is the main carrier, the true stars are the veggies. You can switch 'em up depending on the theme of your salad. You just want to make sure you add veggies that are big on texture and flavor.
• Pasta: Let's circle back to the pasta now. The pasta is acting as the main carrier for the rest of the ingredients. Because of that, you want to use pasta that will hold its shape well and carry the dressing well. There are many shapes that do this well, but I love using the tri-color rotini and sometimes I switch it up to bowtie.
• Cold: I'm going to say this despite my theory that you are already very aware of this fact, but the reason why this is such a popular spring and summer dish is that it's served cold. The longer it sits in the fridge the better the flavors will meld. So do yourself a favor and refrigerate this for at least 24 hours and serve it cold so it can cool you down from the insane heat.
  
• Dressing: All salads need a dressing, right? This one is no different. You can mix up the dressings depending on the theme of the salad, but since this is a Meditteranean pasta salad, I'm using an olive oil and red wine vinegar base. Add in some seasoning for flavoring and tada! We have our dressing.

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Ingredients for my Mediterranean pasta salad:

• Pasta– You can use any shape that holds dressing well but I prefer the tri-colored rotini.
• Peppers - I use a d mix of peppers including yellow, green, and roasted red peppers. They add great flavor and nice crunch and colors.
• Cucumbers – Adds a fresh crunch and color.
• Olives – I use a mix of black and kalamata olives.
• Red Onion – Just a bit of red onion adds a bit of spice.
• Cheese– In my world, you can't have pasta salads without cheese, so I add two of my favorites - parmesan and feta.
• Herbs - You can add a number of fresh herbs, but with this, I'd go with fresh oregano, basil, and/or parsley if you have them on hand. If not, you can use the dried versions. Just be sure to use less since they're more pungent.
• Seasonings– Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, black pepper
• Dressing–A simple mix of olive oil and red wine vinegar. Use great quality for both and it brings out big flavors.

How to Make Mediterranean Pasta Salad:

• Cook your pasta –First thing you'll want to do is cook your pasta. I cook it just a couple of minutes past al-dente. I don't want it too firm, unlike when we're eating it with sauce but this is totally a judgment call. Once the pasta is done cooking, drain the water and set it aside in a very large mixing bowl.
• Chop your veggies– When the pasta is done cooking, you can start chopping your veggies and adding them to the pasta.
• Add your cheeses- Add your cheese next.
• Add your dressing and seasoning– I like to use a big measuring cup for this. Add your oil and vinegar and seasonings and mix to the best of your ability, even though oil and vinegar don't really mix :).
• Mix and refrigerate - Once it's properly mixed, I add the fresh herbs and mix again. Then, cover and refrigerate for at least six hours or ideally up to 48 hours. If you refrigerate it for a day or two, the flavors will really meld well. The pasta will soak up your dressing so if you'd like to add more for rehydration once you serve it, you can do that as well. Serve cold and enjoy!