Aegean Pasta Salad

JackieOhNo!'s Note:

"Party Pasta", Good Food Magazine, August 1986. A nice summer pasta salad that is really a meal.

• Total Time: 40 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

• 12 ounces spiral pasta (cavatappi or fusilli)
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped oil-cured olives
• 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes, stemmed, halved
• 1 lb medium shrimp, cooked, shelled, deveined
• 8 ounces feta cheese, diced
• salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat large pot of water to boiling. Salt water. Add past and cook according to package directions until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain, cool under cold running water, and drain again.
2. Toast pine nuts in a small skillet over low heat until golden.
3. Transfer pasta to large bowl. In small bowl, combine oil, vinegar, and lemon zest. Pour over pasta and toss to coat. Add nuts, olives, and parsley and combine thoroughly. Gently stir in tomatoes, shrimp, and cheese, Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. You can serve at once, or you can refrigerate and serve cold. (I always prefer to let the flavors blend.).

Reviews

[realbirdlady]

A subtle mix of flavors and textures. The balsamic vinegar and lemon work well against the olive oil, the tomatoes and olives offer two different fruit tastes, and the hardness of the pine nuts punctuates the softer shrimp and cheese.