Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and Arugula

This easy pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and arugula recipe is also loaded with artichoke hearts, capers, toasted pine nuts, red onion, and parmesan tossed with a tangy homemade vinaigrette. We all thought this Mediterranean pasta salad was delicious, healthy, and filling, and it paired nicely with a fruit salad and crusty roasted garlic bread.

Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and Arugula

Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 large clove of garlic, minced
• 1/4-1/2 tsp oregano, to taste
• Pinch sugar, to taste
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste

Pasta Salad:

• 8 oz mini penne pasta, cooked in salted water per package instructions
• 1 cup arugula
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• ¼ cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
• ¼ cup olives, sliced (I used black & kalamata)
• ¼ small red onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts
• 1 tbsp capers
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• Parmesan, grated, to taste
• Lemon wedges, for serving

How to Make Pasta Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and Arugula

Prepare the vinaigrette by combining olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, dried oregano, and sugar in a small dish. Add sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste. Whisk until well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to mingle.

Make the pasta salad by cooking the pasta in salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water.

Toss the pasta in a large bowl, then add the sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, arugula, red onion, toasted pine nuts, and capers.

Drizzle with the well-whisked vinaigrette; toss to coat evenly.

Allow the flavors to mingle for a few minutes before tossing again and pouring into a serving bowl.

Top with grated parmesan, sea salt, and freshly cracked pepper to taste; toss and serve with additional lemon wedges and parmesan cheese on the side. Enjoy.