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Tzatziki Pasta Salad

A bright and fresh side dish combining comforting rotini pasta with the cool, creamy, and garlicky flavors of authentic Greek tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, and herbs.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Greek, Summer
Calories: 260

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Veggies
  • 16 oz rotini pasta or any short pasta
  • 1 large English cucumber half grated, half sliced
  • 0.5 cup red onion finely diced
Tzatziki Dressing
  • 1.5 cups plain Greek yogurt full-fat recommended
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 0.25 cup fresh dill chopped
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 tsp kosher salt plus more for pasta water
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly cracked

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Colander
  • Box Grater
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
  2. Drain the pasta and immediately rinse under cold water to stop the cooking and remove starches. Set aside to drain completely.
  3. Grate half of the English cucumber. Place the grated cucumber in a clean towel and squeeze out as much water as possible.
  4. Slice the remaining half of the cucumber into half-moons and finely dice the red onion. Place in a large serving bowl.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, squeezed grated cucumber, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, dill, parsley, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  6. Add the cooled pasta to the serving bowl with the sliced veggies. Pour the tzatziki dressing over the top and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  7. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving to let flavors meld. Toss again before serving.

Notes

If the salad seems a bit dry the next day, stir in a splash of milk or an extra spoonful of Greek yogurt to bring back the creamy texture.