Mediterranean Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad (Printable)

Vibrant Mediterranean-style pasta with creamy cottage cheese, fresh vegetables, and tangy lemon dressing. Ready in 25 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 9 oz short pasta (fusilli, penne, or farfalle)
02 - 1 tsp salt (for pasta water)

→ Dairy

03 - 1 cup cottage cheese

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
06 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
08 - 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Optional Add-ins

15 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
16 - 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts

# How-To Steps:

01 - Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, bell pepper, olives, and parsley.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - If desired, top with crumbled feta cheese and pine nuts before serving.
07 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to chill and develop flavors.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cottage cheese creates this incredible creamy coating without being heavy like mayo-based salads
  • You can prep everything ahead and it actually tastes better after the flavors hang out together
02 -
  • The pasta absorbs dressing as it sits, so make extra dressing if you're planning to eat this over multiple days
  • Cottage cheese varies wildly in saltiness, so always taste before adding additional salt to the dressing
03 -
  • Roast the vegetables for 15 minutes before adding them to the salad for a deeper, sweeter flavor profile
  • Let the dressed salad rest in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving for the best flavor integration

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