Mediterranean pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and kale

With warmer weather just around the corner, it’s time for something refreshing in our bellies. This easy Mediterranean Pasta & Kale Salad with Garlic Basil Dressing is loaded with fresh kale, tender chilled pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, and shredded Parmesan. It’s perfect for picnics and for when you need something lighter but still comforting.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad Ingredients:

• Pasta– I used Rotini but use your favorite kind! Something with grooves or spirals works great for catching all of the dressing.
• Fresh Kale
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes– dry or packed in oil. Dry sun-dried tomatoes have the texture of dried fruit and a bit more chew . The packed in oil version is a bit more tender.
• Crumbled Feta Cheese
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese

For Garlic & Basil Dressing:

• Fresh Basil
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• White Wine Vinegar– for a bit of acid. This is important in balancing the flavors and giving the salad a ‘zesty’ quality.
• Garlic Cloves
• Salt & Pepper

Substitutions & Serving Suggestions:

• Not a fan of tomatoes? Try substituting roasted red peppers.
• Kale isn’t your thing? Try switching it out for a different leafy green such as spinach or arugula.
• Don’t have a blender/food processor to make dressing? Try using jarred pesto instead.
• Need a substitute for the white wine vinegar? Red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice all work well.
• Try adding Protein! This salad works great with some shredded rotisserie chicken.

Equipment Needed:

This post contains affiliate links.

• Knife
• Cutting Board
• Medium Mixing Bowl
• Blender or Food Processor
• Cheese Grater (if grating Parmesan)
• Pot (for boiling pasta)

How to Make Mediterranean Pasta Salad:

• Cook Pasta: bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt to the water before adding pasta. As the pasta cooks, it absorbs some of the water, so adding salt adds flavor to the noodles. Add the pasta to pot and cook according to the directions on the package. Drain pasta and allow to cool slightly before mixing into salad. It’s ok if it’s still a bit warm, just not hot.

• Make Dressing: de-stem and add fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, garlic cloves, and salt & pepper to a food processor or high-powered blender. Run on high until ingredients are fully blended. Taste dressing to check for desired saltiness. Refrigerate dressing until ready to use.

• Mix Salad: add a touch of oil to roughly chopped kale and gently massage leaves between fingers for 1-2 minutes. This tenderizes the kale. Add kale, sun dried tomatoes, crumbled feta cheese, shredded Parmesan cheese, and pasta to a medium mixing bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss to fully combine. Cover bowl in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Tips:

• Before making dressing, give the fresh basil leaves a quick rinse to remove any dirt or bugs. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Massage kale in between fingers with a bit of oil for 1-2 minutes before adding to salad to tenderize the leaves and decrease some of the bitterness.

Recipes You May Also Love:

• White Bean & Couscous Tabbouleh Salad– fresh vegetables, creamy white beans, tangy feta cheese crumbles, and soft garlic couscous.
• Easy Roasted Garlic Hummus
• Grilled Sweet Pepper Panzanella with Whipped Feta– grilled bread salad with herby marinated grilled sweet peppers, paired with a salted honey whipped feta.

Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest for more delicious recipes and tips for RV Living!

This post may contain affiliate links. By posting a product through these links, I may receive a small commission. Please know, I only suggest products that I have used and love! Thank you so much for your support, it helps me keep Must Love Garlic up and running!

Top 5 mediterranean pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and kale edited by Family Cuisine