Best Mediterranean Pasta Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA WITH ARTICHOKES, OLIVES, AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Return pasta to pot.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high. Add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, cook, stirring occasionally until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add wine and cook until evaporated, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in artichokes and cook until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add olives and half of the tomatoes; cook until tomatoes start to break down, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pasta to skillet. Stir in remaining tomatoes, oil, cheese, and basil. Thin with reserved pasta water if necessary to coat the spaghetti. Serve with additional cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 4-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Remove from pot., In same pot, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add red pepper and onion; cook and stir 4-5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Add wine, sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring to loosen browned bits from pot., Add broth and artichoke hearts; return to a boil. Stir in spinach and chicken; cook just until spinach is wilted., Drain pasta; stir into chicken mixture. Stir in feta cheese. If desired, top servings with basil and Parmesan cheese.

SAM'S MEDITERRANEAN ROTINI PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Prepare 1 12 ounce box of tri-color Rotini pasta per package directions or to desired firmness. I suggest cooking to al dente. Drain in colander, rinse with cold water and set aside.
• 2. Meanwhile, whisk together the mayonnaise, Mediterranean dressing (I use the Wish Bone brand), the optional sea salt (Feta cheese is salty enough for most people), and black pepper until smooth and creamy. If you can't find the Mediterranean dressing, use an oil based good quality bottled Greek dressing. I have made this using both types of bottled dressings and personally think the Mediterranean Italian gives it a better overall flavor.
• 3. Place 1/2 cup of Caesar croutons in a plastic storage bag and either "beat them up" or use a rolling pin to crush them. I've found it's not worth the effort of pulling out the food processor for this small task. Stir the crushed croutons into the creamy mixture.
• 4. Mix in the drained and cooled pasta, Kalamata olives, and crumbled Feta cheese ensuring that the pasta is well coated. If the mixture looks runny, don't fret; the pasta and crushed croutons will absorb the excess liquid. Adding an additional 1/4 cup of crushed croutons would help as well. I've added as much as 1 full cup and found that the next day leftovers were too dry with that amount added. Just keep in mind- the longer this pasta salad sits in the refrigerator while the flavors are mingling, more of the liquid will be absorbed.
• 5. Stir in the optional diced onion and red peppers. Add additional crumbled Feta cheese to the top for garnish if desired and refrigerate for 1-2 hours prior to serving. If the salad is "too runny", try adding an additional 1/4 to 1/2 cup of crushed croutons.
• 6. Eat and enjoy! I don't like peppers so I don't use them, but I do love the onions for their texture and taste.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente; drain, then rinse with cold water to cool.
• Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in enough of the oil to make a smooth dressing; season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the sun-dried tomatoes, basil, onion, pepperoncini, olives and oregano in a bowl. Add the cooked pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add the vinaigrette and both cheeses and toss. Chill until ready to serve.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA IN MINUTES

Steps:

• Boil water for pasta in a pasta pot, fitted with a strainer. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Brown chicken strips until no longer pink -- about 3 minutes each side. Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic to skillet. Saute for 2 minutes. In the meantime, add the fresh pasta to boiling water, cook until al dente, about 5 minutes.
• Now add the basil, artichoke hearts, olives and feta cheese to the skillet. Saute 1 minute then stir in the cream. Strain the pasta and transfer to a large pasta bowl. Add the chicken saute to the pasta and toss. Season with oregano, salt and pepper before serving.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add linguine and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
• Season chicken with salt. Stir chicken with bacon in a large skillet or saucepan. Add tomatoes and rosemary, and simmer 20 minutes. Stir in feta cheese, olives and artichoke hearts and cook until heated through. Toss with fresh cooked pasta and serve warm. Garnished with extra feta if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN TUNA PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute tuna in 1 tablespoon oil until fish flakes easily with a fork; cool. , In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper and remaining oil; shake well. , Drain pasta and rinse in cold water. , In a large salad bowl, combine the pasta, tuna, cucumber, onion, olives, tomato and feta cheese. Drizzle with dressing; gently toss to coat.

MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP WITH ANGEL HAIR PASTA

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package; drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water. Return pasta to saucepan; cover to keep warm.
• Meanwhile, in large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic in butter about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until onion has softened. Add sun-dried tomatoes, oregano, pepper flakes, salt and capers. Cook 3 minutes longer.
• Stir in shrimp. Cover; cook until shrimp just turn pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice. Gradually stir in reserved pasta cooking water.
• Add pasta to skillet; toss with shrimp and sauce. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN SALMON PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water, drain well, and place in a serving bowl.
• Top pasta with cucumber, tomatoes, and shallot. Break up salmon and sprinkle on top.
• Whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon-pepper seasoning, mustard, salt, and dill in a small bowl for the vinaigrette. Drizzle over the salad and toss gently to combine.

MEDITERRANEAN CHICKEN PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package; set aside.
• Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add to skillet; cook 5 to 7 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from skillet; set aside.
• Reduce heat to medium. In same skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, the onion and garlic; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; cook and stir until starting to wilt, about 1 minute.
• In very large bowl, mix cooked chicken, spinach mixture, pasta, crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese and Italian cheese blend. Transfer mixture to baking dish.
• In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle on top of pasta mixture in baking dish. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until bread crumbs are golden brown and casserole is heated through (165°F in center). Garnish with basil, and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Peel shrimp and devein; keep chilled until needed.
• Chop sun-dried tomatoes into small pieces; place in a heat-proof bowl and cover with boiling water; allow to rest until softened, 15-30 minutes.
• Cook pasta until al dente, 8-10 minutes, or according to package directions; start to prepare vegetables and shrimp just as pasta cooks.
• Drain softened sun-dried tomatoes from water and reserve the soaking liquid (you may need this later).
• In a large deep skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat, and add garlic, pepper flakes (if using), and oregano, just until fragrant.
• Add the artichokes, sliced red peppers, chopped olives, and softened tomatoes; season with salt and pepper.
• Add the wine, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 mintes.
• Check your pasta, taste it to see if it is al dente; drain when ready, and toss with a little extra virgin olive oil if desired.
• Add the shrimp and the feta to the pan, and cook over moderate heat until the shrimp curl and turn pink, several minutes.
• Sprinkle the dish with parsley and add the juice of the lemon, being careful not to add the seeds.
• Fold in the cooked pasta, tossing to mix, until everything is evenly blended.
• Add some of the reserved cooking liquid from the sun-dried tomatoes if the pasta seems too dry, use your own judgement as to how much you like to add.
• Serve hot, with other foods if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA WITH LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For meatballs: combine lamb, 2 teaspoons of the spice mix, the ground matzoh crackers, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/4 cup feta cheese. Mix until combined but do not overmix. Divide into 16 equal portions; shape into meatballs. Place meatballs on rack over cookie sheet so grease will drain from meatballs while cooking; bake 20 minutes.
• For sauce: heat olive oil in saucepan over medium heat and add shallots and remaining garlic. Cook until limp and translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, remainder of spice mix, cinnamon, pepper, remainder of the salt, chicken stock, and parsley. Bring to boil; reduce to a simmer and cook until thick, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
• To cooked sauce add sliced green onion, and meatballs stirring gently to coat. Serve meatballs with sauce over pasta and garnish with remaining feta cheese.
• In a blender or coffee grinder pulse coriander, rosemary, thyme, cumin, marjoram, oregano, and onion until a fine consistency.

MEDITERRANEAN VINAIGRETTE FOR PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the tahini, olive oil, olives, vinegar, parsley, mustard, shallot, thyme and orange zest in a mixing bowl and whisk until evenly incorporated. Season with salt and pepper.

SILVANA'S MEDITERRANEAN & BASIL PASTA

Steps:

• To roast the veg, preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6/fan 180C. Scatter the peppers, red onions, chillies and garlic in a large roasting tin. Sprinkle with sugar, drizzle over the oil and season well with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, toss in the tomatoes and roast for another 15 minutes until everything is starting to soften and look golden.
• While the vegetables are roasting, cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet instructions, until tender but still with a bit of bite. Drain well.
• Remove the vegetables from the oven, tip in the pasta and toss lightly together. Tear the basil leaves on top and sprinkle with Parmesan to serve. If you have any leftovers it makes a great cold pasta salad - just moisten with extra olive oil if needed.

MEDITERRANEAN SUMMER PASTA WITH SALSA CRUDA

Steps:

• In a large pasta serving bowl, mix together the olives, tomatoes, mint, capers, garlic, red pepper flakes, orange zest and olive oil. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper. Stir and lightly press the ingredients with the back of the spoon to incorporate flavors. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, or up to a day.
• Just before serving, cook the angel hair pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Remove the garlic clove from the pasta sauce. Drain the pasta and while still steaming hot, place the pasta on top of the cold sauce. Let sit for a minute before tossing the pasta. Top with grated Parmesan and serve.

MEDITERRANEAN TUNA-PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook fettuccine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain.
• Place pasta in a large bowl; add tuna, tomatoes, red onion, and olives.
• Combine vinegar, garlic, oil, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake vinaigrette well. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

MEDITERRANEAN SHRIMP 'N' PASTA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, pour boiling water over sun-dried tomatoes; let stand for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside. Cook fettuccine according to package directions., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the tomato sauce, clam juice, apple juice, curry powder and pepper; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook asparagus in oil for 2 minutes. Add green onions and garlic; cook and stir 1 minute longer. , Stir in shrimp. Cook and stir 3 minutes longer or until shrimp turn pink. Stir in tomato sauce mixture and sun-dried tomatoes; heat through. Drain fettuccine and add to skillet; toss to coat.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl or cup, combine olive oil and chopped garlic. Set aside.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente. Drain.
• Transfer pasta to a medium mixing bowl, and add roasted red peppers, olives, and feta cheese. Toss with olive oil mixture and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN PASTA SALAD WITH HUMMUS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook bow-tie pasta at a boil, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and refrigerate until cool to the touch, about 15 minutes.
• Combine cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and garlic in a medium bowl. Add cooled pasta. Toss with hummus. Gently mix in basil. Season with salt and pepper. Adjust the amount of hummus based on how wet or dry the salad seems. Garnish with feta cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN FARFALLE (BOW TIE) PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Boil pasta for 11 minutes (al dente) to 12 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool quickly; drain well.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine roasted red pepper, onion, parsley, vinegar, and garlic.
• Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in oil.
• Add cooled pasta, beans, and seasoning; toss lightly until well blended.
• Cover; refrigerate 2 hours.