Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe | Front Range Fed (2024)

This Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe is a delicious blend of fresh veggies, tender pasta, and fresh salmon, all tossed in a tangy lemon vinaigrette. Perfect for a hot summer day, I love this for a light dinner or a backyard barbecue.

I've been making this simple salmon pasta salad for years and it's one of my favorite dishes during the summer months and definitely one of my favorite pasta salad recipes. It's nice and light, healthy, and easy to pull together. Not to mention totally riff-able.

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy. Once the salmon is cooked, it's really just a matter of tossing everything together. Super simple!
• Healthy. In case you've missed it, salmon is really healthy - rich in healthy fats and vitamin D! Use whole wheat pasta for extra health bonus points.
• Great make-ahead dish. Because this is served cold, it's the perfect make-ahead dish - great for when you need to bring something for a potluck, or summer picnic, or need a quick and easy meal after a long day.
• The perfect way to use up leftover salmon! If you have leftover salmon from another dish, this is a great use for it. Sometimes I'll even make an extra filet when I'm making salmon, just to use in this simple pasta salad.

Key Ingredients

Just a few simple ingredients make up this delicious pasta salad!

• Short Pasta. You'll want to use a short pasta shape here. Penne pasta, fusilli, or spiral pasta all work well.
• Fresh Veggies. Cherry tomatoes, English cucumber (you don't need to worry about the seeds), red onion, and red bell pepper add color and crunch. But feel free to toss in what you have - zucchini or asparagus would be amazing with the salmon!
• Cooked Salmon. Use freshly cooked (and cooled) salmon, leftover salmon, or even canned salmon for this dish.
• Vinaigrette. A simple mix of olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic clove.
• Feta Cheese. Doesn't cheese make everything better? Feta has that creamy, tangy element that enhances the Mediterranean flavors of this dish and adds just a touch of saltiness.

How To Make Salmon Pasta Salad

This recipe comes together in a snap! Here's how to make it:

1. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add 16 oz of short pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse it under cold water to cool. Transfer the cooked pasta to a large bowl and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to cool completely.

2. Prepare the vinaigrette. In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup olive oil, ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and 1 minced garlic clove. Set aside.
3. Combine pasta and veggies. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes, 1 medium cucumber (sliced and quartered), ½ small thinly sliced red onion, and ½ chopped red bell pepper.

4. Add the vinaigrette. Pour the vinaigrette over the pasta mixture. Toss to mix well.
5. Add the salmon and feta. Because the salmon and feta are delicate, you'll want to add them at the very end to prevent them from crumbling or falling apart to much. Gently fold in 3 cups of cooked salmon pieces and ½ cup crumbled feta cheese. Toss lightly to incorporate.

6. Serve. Transfer the salad to a serving bowl and enjoy immediately. For best results, let the salad sit for about 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Variations And Substitutions

• Try a different dressing. While I feel like the vinaigrette works well if you're serving this on a hot hot day, you can try different types of dressings depending on what you're in the mood for. Swap the vinaigrette with a creamy dressing made of Greek yogurt, dijon mustard, and fresh dill for a twist.
• Try different veggies. Add or substitute with other veggies like green peas, green onions, zucchini, or asparagus.
• Try different proteins. Use grilled chicken, tuna, or shrimp instead of salmon. Or try this with smoked salmon for a different take.
• Try some fresh herbs. Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or chives can add a burst of freshness to the salad and go great with the salmon.

Frequently Asked Questions

This Cold Mediterranean Salmon Pasta Salad Recipe is a versatile, delicious dish that's the perfect dish or perfect side dish for almost any summer gathering. If you try this easy pasta salad recipe, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!

More Easy Summer Dishes

• Easy Baked Salmon In Foil, With Lemon And Dill
• Easy Lemon Salmon Pasta
• Smoked Salmon Sushi Bowls
• Pasta With Chickpeas, Spinach And Tomatoes
• Easy Salmon BLT Sandwiches With Garlic Aioli
• Farro With Blistered Tomatoes And Pesto
• Jimmy Buffett Cheeseburger Pasta Salad
• Chickpea Stew With Orzo And Greens

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