Spicy Pasta Salad

The spicy pasta salad is a versatile dish that can be prepared according to personal tastes, here’s a version that you can easily adapt to your preferences:

Ingredients

• 300 gr of short pasta (such as fusilli or penne)
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 yellow bell pepper
• 1 cucumber
• 200 gr of cherry tomatoes
• 150 gr of corn
• 200 gr of feta cheese
• 50 gr of pitted black olives
• 1 bunch of fresh aromatic herbs (basil, parsley, coriander, your choice)
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 clove of garlic
• Chili powder to taste
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Balsamic vinegar or lemon juice to taste

Preparation

1. Cook the pasta in plenty of salted water according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and ensure it remains al dente.
2. Meanwhile, wash and dice the bell peppers, slice the cucumber into half-moons, cut the cherry tomatoes in half, and dice the feta cheese.
3. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta with the bell peppers, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, corn, olives, and feta.
4. Prepare an emulsion with the extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, finely chopped garlic clove, lemon zest, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to obtain a homogeneous dressing.
5. Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables, mix well to evenly dress.
6. Chop the fresh aromatic herbs and add them to the salad for a touch of freshness.
7. Allow the pasta salad to rest in the refrigerator for at least half an hour before serving, to let the flavors meld together.

For an Italian twist, you could add diced spicy salami or Parmesan shavings for an extra touch. Additionally, if you prefer, you can replace the chili powder with fresh chopped chili, or add spices like oregano or rosemary to further enhance the flavor.

Curiosity

Pasta salad is a very common dish on Italian summer tables, precisely because of its freshness and versatility. With this base, you can truly personalize as you prefer, playing with spices and ingredients you have at hand.