CUCUMBER, TOMATO AND PASTA SALAD

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Cucumber, Tomato and Pasta Salad image

I make this recipe mostly in late Spring and especially during the Summer months using cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, fresh from my own garden. I usually make enough for at least two or three servings so I'll have something for a quick, easy brown-bag lunch or perhaps a light dinner. This recipe is easy on the budget, relatively healthy, and is a great side dish. I'll sometimes have a small bowl of this salad with a toasted slice of baguette bread, lightly brushed with extra virgin olive oil and rubbed with a fresh garlic clove and a sprinkling of oregano, and a glass of my favorite wine. Bon Appetit!!

Provided by KyAmy

Categories     Low Cholesterol

Time 20m

Yield 6 , 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups tri-color spiral pasta, uncooked
10 -15 cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
2 -4 tablespoons black olives, canned sliced
1 large cucumber, sliced and quartered (peel, if desired)
1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 tablespoon almonds, sliced (optional)

Steps:

  • Cook rotini as directed on package to al dante; Drain and run pasta under cold water.
  • Drizzle italian dressing over pasta, mixing slowly so as not to break apart the pasta pieces. Add in tomatoes, black olives, cucumber, and 5 tablespoons of the feta cheese. Continue mixing ingredients until well-coated.
  • Sprinkle remaining feta cheese over pasta mixture and top with almonds. (Instead of almonds I've used Melissa's Salad Sprinkles. This could not be located in RecipeZaar as a recognized ingredient but I wanted to record it in the directions as another option for a salad topper.).
  • NOTE: If you don't care for feta cheese, try using Parmesan cheese instead. It tastes just as good and gives the salad a somewhat different flavor. Use only four to five tablespoons instead and mix in as given above.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 255.3, Fat 8.1, SaturatedFat 2.7, Cholesterol 11.1, Sodium 424.6, Carbohydrate 38.1, Fiber 2.4, Sugar 4.8, Protein 8.2

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