The Olive Bar Pasta Salad

Next time you walk by your grocery store olive bar, think dinner! This super flavorful pasta salad is easy to put together and it can be made several hours in advance! Perfect for feeding a crowd or simply serving as a side to grilled meats. 

The Olive Bar Pasta Salad

Ingredients


1 box short grain pasta (I love De Cecco's fusilli bucati)

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1/4 cup finely chopped shallots

3/4 cup pitted olives, chopped (I use a mix of Kalamata and green olives)

3/4 cup marinated artickokes hearts, chopped

3 garlic cloves, finelly chopped

5 sun dried tomatoes, chopped

1/2 cup basil leaves, chopped

2 tablespoon of mint leaves, chopped

1/2 pint of baby tomatoes, cut in half or fourths

2 cups of baby spinach

Dressing

1/4 cup tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

zest of one lemon
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of celery seeds

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, or more to taste

Directions:


1- Cook the pasta until al dente following the instructions on the box. Drain it, place it in a large bowl, coat with some olive oil, and let it cool.


2- To make the dressing simply stir all the ingredients together and set aside.

3- When pasta is cool add olives, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, shallots, garlic, basil and mint. Add dressing and stir to combine. Add tomatoes and spinach and stir gently. 


4- Serve it right away or allow the pasta to sit from 45 minutes to 4 hours so all the flavors can combine. Serve slightly cold or at room temperature.


Visualize:


Cook the pasta, drain it, place it in a large bowl, coat it with olive oil and allow it to cool:

On a skillet over medium heat toast the pine nuts until they look golden brown:

Prepare the dressing by combining all the ingredients:

When pasta is cool, add olives, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, pine nuts, garlic, shallots, basil, and mint:

Add dressing and stir to combine:

Gently stir in the tomatoes and spinach:

Serve it right away or allow the pasta salad to sit for at least 45 minutes so all the flavors can combine. Serve slightly cold or at room temperature: