This easy and vibrant pasta salad from Jamie Oliver is perfect for a quick, nutritious meal. With fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, and a tangy garlic dressing, it’s a delicious, light dish that’s packed with flavor. You can easily customize it with ingredients you have on hand for a fresh and satisfying meal.
Ingredients Needed
- 310g/11oz small shell-shaped pasta
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 255g/9oz yellow cherry tomatoes
- 255g/9oz red cherry tomatoes
- 1 handful of black olives, pitted
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives
- 1 handful of fresh basil
- ½ a cucumber
- 4 tablespoons white wine vinegar (or to taste)
- 7 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
How To Make Pasta Salad
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and garlic cloves. Cook until al dente, drain, and run under cold water to cool.
- Prepare the ingredients: While the pasta is cooling, chop the tomatoes, olives, chives, basil, and cucumber into pieces about half the size of the pasta. Add them to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: Squash the garlic cloves out of their skins and mash them in a pestle and mortar. Add the vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Mash well to combine.
- Assemble the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mix. Adjust seasoning to taste, and serve!
Recipe Tips
- Use cold water to cool the pasta: After draining the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the pasta from becoming too soft.
- Chop ingredients evenly: To ensure every bite is balanced, chop the tomatoes, olives, cucumber, and herbs to about the same size as the pasta.
- Season the dressing to taste: Start with the recommended vinegar and oil, but adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or vinegar to suit your taste.
- Let the salad chill: For the best flavor, let the pasta salad sit for a few minutes before serving, allowing the ingredients to marinate in the dressing.
How To Store Leftovers?
Let the leftover pasta salad cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 cup (approximately 202 grams)
- Calories: 507
- Total Fat: 24.6g
- Saturated Fat: 4.8g
- Total Carbohydrate: 63.6g
- Dietary Fiber: 4.5g
- Sugars: 7.4g
- Protein: 11.4g
Try More Jamie Oliver Recipes:
- Jamie Oliver Pasta Dough
- Jamie Oliver Green Pasta
- Jamie Oliver 5 Ingredients Cavolo Nero Pasta Recipe
- Jamie Oliver Vegetarian Pasta Bake
Jamie Oliver Pasta Salad
Description
This easy and vibrant pasta salad from Jamie Oliver is perfect for a quick, nutritious meal. With fresh cherry tomatoes, olives, and a tangy garlic dressing, it’s a delicious, light dish that’s packed with flavor. You can easily customize it with ingredients you have on hand for a fresh and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil. Add the pasta and garlic cloves. Cook until al dente, drain, and run under cold water to cool.
- Prepare the ingredients: While the pasta is cooling, chop the tomatoes, olives, chives, basil, and cucumber into pieces about half the size of the pasta. Add them to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: Squash the garlic cloves out of their skins and mash them in a pestle and mortar. Add the vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. Mash well to combine.
- Assemble the salad: Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and vegetable mix. Adjust seasoning to taste, and serve!
Notes
- Use cold water to cool the pasta: After draining the pasta, rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process and keep the pasta from becoming too soft.
- Chop ingredients evenly: To ensure every bite is balanced, chop the tomatoes, olives, cucumber, and herbs to about the same size as the pasta.
- Season the dressing to taste: Start with the recommended vinegar and oil, but adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, or vinegar to suit your taste.
- Let the salad chill: For the best flavor, let the pasta salad sit for a few minutes before serving, allowing the ingredients to marinate in the dressing.