Best Summer Pasta Salad
Thinking of ways to use up all those tomatoes and fresh veggies, try this Best Summer Pasta Salad. Last year I had so many I didn’t know what to do with them. This year we have had crazy weather and also did our deck so my poor plants lived inside when they needed visits from the bees. Now I think the bees are gone sadly but even if you don’t have a yard full of veggies this salad can be easily made and it is delicious!
I found a gorgeous bag of tri-coloured pasta at an Italian market and instantly thought of a bright and flavorful pasta salad. This salad is perfect for a late summer BBQ, picnic or potluck! Great for the coming weekend with Labour Day events.
Impress family and friends with this easy pasta salad, a plain bow tie pasta can be easily substituted for the tri-colour pasta and that is easily found in any grocery store.
Juicy tomatoes, salty olives, crispy cucumber with loads of flavor from garlic and herbs, make this a memorable salad for anytime of the year!
Best Summer Pasta Salad
The Best Summer Pasta Salad is full of delicious flavor from tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, olives and herbs!
Ingredients
- 10 oz. bowtie pasta
- 2 large cloves garlic, skinned
- 10 oz. yellow cherry tomatoes
- 10 oz. red cherry tomatoes
- 3/4 cup pitted small black olives
- 2 Tbsp. fresh chives
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
- 4 small cucumber, sliced and halved
- 3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
- 6 Tbsp. olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Add the pasta and the garlic to a large pot of boiling salted water. Cook until al dente and then remove the garlic and set aside. Rinse pasta under cold water to cool. Chop the tomatoes, cucumbers, chives adn basil. Add to a bowl with the pasta. Top with the olives. Mush the garlic cloves with a fork or in a mortar and pestle. Place in a small bowl and add in the vinegar, oil and salt and pepper. Drizzle over the salad and toss gently. Top with a little more salt and pepper when serving.
Adpated from Jamie Oliver.
Comments & Reviews
Platter Talk says
We can’t decided what we like best about this salad! The tomatoes, the garlic, the olives , the pasta… It’s all good but perhaps best of all is the SUMMER you have added!! Love it!!
Tara Noland says
Thank you so much Dan, there is still a bit of summer left!
Florian@ ContentednessCooking says
Wow this is a wonderful pasta salad so easy to make, fresh and flavorful, Tara! I can’t wait to try this, beautiful and inventing pictures. Colorful and vibrant! This is definitely a salad that I would take a long to a party.
Catherine says
Dear Tara, what a refreshing and delightful salad! So bright and beautiful! xo, Catherine
Janette@culinaryginger says
I love how colorful this is, I want to devour it.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Beautiful salad! It’s just turned Spring here today in Australia – and think this recipe would be perfect for the new season.
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
Looks delicious!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
This def is the best pasta salad ever.
KC the Kitchen Chopper says
This dish looks so colorful and healthful. I want to dive right in. Absolutely beautiful.
Diana Rambles says
So colorful and tasty!!
Abigail says
This salad is not just bursting with delicious flavors it looks so pretty, too! Summer time or not I can eat this salad on any given day!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
Tara, your pasta salad looks sooooo good! I love all the wonderful colors and textures…perfect for entertaining all year-round here in Florida!
Rebecca B. says
I love a good pasta salad filled with garden fresh veggies!! This would be perfect to take to any Labor Day festivities 🙂
Kristen says
I am loving all these colors! Looks so yummy!
Diane says
Definitely gonna need to try this salad/ We love all of it! Our tomatoes and peppers are till going strong. I’m not ready to give up summer yet!
Katerina says
I make such types of salads all the time during summer. I think it’s the best meal during hot days! This one looks perfect!
Debi @ Life Currents says
This looks so good! I have a Labor Day party this weekend and I might just bring this. Looks awesome!
justine @ Full Belly SIsters says
Love all the freshness and colors!
Jillian @ Food, Folks and Fun says
I love pasta salads during the summer. I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Del's cooking twist says
This is exactly what I need right now. A lovely fresh pasta salad with vegetables. Yours is beautiful!