Greek Pasta Salad

Lalaloula's Note:

This is a wonderful mediterranian pasta salad. It is very tasty and also very healthy, too, cause it uses no cream or mayonnaise. You can make it even healthier by using whole wheat pasta instead of regular. This is great served with some oven-warm bread or just eaten plain.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 2

• 80 g pasta (maccaroni or penne)
• 125 g frozen spinach
• 150 g kefir
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 red onion, diced finely
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• 40 g green olives, halved (stones removed)
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1/2 bunch dill, chopped finely
• 1 tablespoon walnut oil or 1 tablespoon other flavourful oil
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (firm to the bite). In the last five minutes of cooking add spinach.
2. For the sauce combine kefir, oil, garlic, dill and lemon juice in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. In a big bowl combine sauce, drained pasta and spinach, tomatoes, olives and onion.
4. Season again to taste.
5. Let cool and serve or eat warm. Enjoy!

Reviews

[JackieOhNo!]

This was a nice twist on the typical Greek pasta salads, which I am really fond of. I doubled the ingredients and made exactly as posted, using kefir (which I always have on hand), except I used halved grape tomatoes and kalamata olives. I found that when the hot ingredients were added to the dressing, it really thinned out the dressing and made it kind of soupy. I ended up adding about 1/2 cup of feta cheese, which added nice flavor and substance. I had tasted the dressing prior to adding the hot ingredients and found it very bright and flavorful. I really liked the addition of the spinach, and will make this again.

[morgainegeiser]

This is a lovely greek pasta salad. It is easy to prepare and has a very nice flavor. Liked the use of pasta with the flavor of a traditional Greek salad.

[littlemafia]

Just looking through the ingredients I see that I forgot spinach! Oopsy. This salad is right on the spot,even though I was able to eat very little bit. My DDs attacked it and Jenifer actually ate twice from it in one day. The little one was sucking and nibbling on red onion slices ( she'll try anything). I have to remember to make more the next time. I used Greek Marinated Olives and they added a little bit more flavor.Instead of kefir I used homemade yogurt and even though I really thought of leaving out the dill, I didn't and I'm so glad I didn't because that's what makes this salad. Very refreshing and guilt free as well.Thanks loula for another great recipe.