All the flavors of a Greek salad are mixed with tortellini to make this Greek Pasta Salad – the perfect light summer dinner or side dish!

What kinds of food do you think of when you think about summer? I immediately think of ice cream, anything with berries or peaches, grilled everything, and pasta salad! Pasta salad is just such a perfect summery food. It is great for picnics or a light dinner. My absolute favorite kind of regular salad is a Greek salad, so I turned it into a pasta salad –  Tortellini Greek Pasta Salad.

As I’m writing this, it is actually Thursday evening. I’m on a flight to San Francisco! So I have 6 hours and 30 minutes to write this. Gosh it is a long flight from NYC to SF – but it is a great time to get some blog work done. I’ve edited three sets of pictures already and it has only been an hour! Only 5+ more hours to go….and I already ate my dinner…this is going to be a long night!

But it is totally worth it. I love San Francisco, and I’m so excited to have a long weekend there with my cousin and my aunt!

Now that I’m getting around to posting this, it is already Friday morning here and it is the most gorgeous day. Here is my current view:

I could get used to blogging in these conditions! Follow me on Instagram to see more pictures from my trip!

I love using tortellini in pasta salad – they are delicious, so easy to eat, and they are a bit more filling that normal pasta. I love that when we are having pasta salad for dinner!

Greek salad is my absolute favorite salad ever. I loaded this pasta salad with fresh grape tomatoes, cucumbers (the English kind, so you don’t have to peel them!), kalamata olives, and feta cheese. I also added spinach, which isn’t traditional in Greek salad, but I love adding more veggies to my pasta salad. It really helps to turn a simple side dish into a light dinner.

The dressing on this pasta salad is a simple lemon vinaigrette, flavored with oregano. It is light and fresh and has the exact flavors you would find on a traditional Greek salad.

Time to go enjoy this amazing day in San Francisco. I hope you all have a great weekend!

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Tortellini Greek Pasta Salad

All the flavors of a Greek salad are mixed with tortellini to make this Greek Pasta Salad - the perfect light summer dinner or side dish!

Ingredients

• 1 12 oz package cheese tortellini (I like Barilla)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice (about one large lemon)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup baby spinach
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup sliced cucumber
• 1/4 cup sliced kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

1. Cook tortellini according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Whisk together zest, juice, salt, sugar, pepper, and oregano. Slowly stream in olive oil, whisking constantly to combine.
3. Drain the tortellini, transfer to a large bowl, and toss with half the dressing. I like to use a rubber spatula to toss so that I don't damage the pasta. Add the spinach to the hot pasta and stir. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes, cucumber, and rest of the dressing and toss to combine. Stir in olives and feta. Let the mixture sit for at least 15 minutes. Serve at room temperature, topping with extra oregano and pepper if desired.

2.5

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Here are some of my other favorite light meals:

Lentil Salad with Olives, Mint and Feta

Avocado Hummus, served with tons of fresh veggies and pita chips

Quinoa Salad with Asparagus, Tomatoes, and Basil Vinaigrette

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