Dirty Martini Pasta Salad Recipe
Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is a flavorful and tangy cold pasta dish inspired by the iconic cocktail. It features pasta tossed with green olives, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty dressing made with olive oil, olive brine, garlic, and fresh lemon juice, making it a refreshing and savory salad perfect for warm weather meals or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta of choice
- 1 cup pitted large green olives, roughly chopped
- 100 g feta cheese, cubed (or blue cheese crumbles)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup olive brine
- 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
- Zest of half a lemon
- Juice of 1/4 lemon
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down for the salad.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small mason jar or jar with a lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, olive brine, minced garlic, lemon zest from half a lemon, juice from a quarter lemon, and a generous amount of black pepper. Seal the jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled pasta, chopped green olives, and cubed feta cheese. Pour the prepared dressing over the ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure everything is evenly coated. Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional black pepper, lemon juice, or salt if desired.
Notes
- Use any short pasta like fusilli, penne, or rotini for best results.
- Olive brine adds great flavor, but you can reduce the quantity if you prefer less salt.
- Blue cheese can be substituted for feta if you prefer a stronger flavor.
- Make sure to rinse the pasta with cold water to prevent it from sticking and to keep the salad cool.
- For a vegan option, omit the cheese or substitute with vegan cheese.
- This salad can be prepared a few hours in advance and kept refrigerated to allow flavors to meld.
Keywords: Dirty Martini Pasta Salad, Mediterranean pasta salad, olive pasta salad, feta cheese pasta salad, cold pasta salad, summer pasta salad
Find it online: https://kitchenbyrita.com/dirty-martini-pasta-salad-recipe/
