Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad with Avocado combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and creamy avocado in a pasta salad that showcases the best of summer produce, with Kalamata olives, crumbled Feta, and fresh dill adding extra flavor and color.
Today I bring you a pasta salad that I've revamped from one of Five Heart Home's most popular (and very first) recipes ever! To date, Tomato Cucumber Salad with Olives & Feta has been viewed and pinned about hundreds of thousands times each (thanks, y'all!). So if that recipe appeals to so many people, I figured you all might also enjoy a pasta salad spin on it, with an additional ingredient that really takes it over the top.
Ingredients
I think what makes this salad so delicious is its variety of colors, textures, and flavors. In the original salad, you had juicy, acidic tomatoes countered by crisp cucumbers, crumbled Feta, and briny Kalamata olives...all topped by a garlic-kissed vinaigrette infused with fresh dill, plus more dill for garnish.
So why mess with a good thing? Well, adding al dente pasta turns this veggie-based salad into something a bit more filling, yet still light enough to enjoy all summer long.
A Delicious Addition
But my new secret ingredient? Chunks of avocado, which elevate an already delicious salad from exceptionally yummy to oh-my-gosh amazing.
Avocado might not be quite as Mediterranean as the other ingredients, but it sure does complement them, adding creamy richness to the fresh flavors of the cucumbers and tomatoes.
Customizing to Your Taste
Of course, if you don't like avocado, leave it out.
If you don't like olives, omit them.
If you don't like Feta cheese...you get the drift.
This pasta salad is infinitely customizable, and you can adapt it to suit your tastes. But if you already happen to like all of these ingredients individually, I think you'll find them to be pretty dynamite once combined!
The Pasta
As for the pasta you see here...I actually bought some pretty, tri-colored spiral pasta to use in this recipe, but when I went to boil it, I couldn't find it in the pantry. Nor could I remember unpacking it from my shopping bags the other day. Don't you hate it when you know you put something in your cart at the grocery store but it somehow doesn't make it home? Of course, I may have been a little distracted running errands that afternoon with my face-painted day campers in tow, so no telling what actually happened to my pasta.
But luckily I had some bow ties in the pantry and they worked just fine. Bottom line? Use your favorite shape of pasta or whatever you have available. That way your salad will by unaffected by the potential forgetfulness of a distracted mom and/or harried grocery store bagger. 😉
If you love cucumbers and tomatoes, or if you happen to find yourself overrun with a garden full of them this summer, I hope you'll give this recipe a try!
And if you're still looking for a last-minute Fourth of July side dish, I'm pretty sure this one would disappear quickly.
Of course, you don't need a holiday or a picnic or a BBQ to enjoy it...this Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad with Avocado would also make a fabulous lunch or light supper all summer long, and you could even toss some slices of grilled chicken on top if that's you're thing.
Enjoy, friends! Have a great week! And may you make it home from the grocery store with all of your pasta salad ingredients in tow. 😉
More Summer Favorites
- The Easiest, Tastiest, BEST Way to Cook Fresh Corn
- German Potato Salad
- Homemade Blackberry Cobbler
- Marinated Tomatoes
- Cobb Pasta Salad
Tomato Cucumber Pasta Salad with Avocado
Ingredients
DILL & GARLIC VINAIGRETTE:
- ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 large clove garlic, minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh dill, minced
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
PASTA SALAD:
- ½ pound pasta, spiral, bow-tie, or your favorite shape
- 1 pound tomatoes, cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half, or about 3 large tomatoes, seeded & chopped
- 1 pound cucumbers, approximately 2 large or 4 small, diced
- ½ cup Kalamata olives, drained, pitted, & sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 to 3 avocados, diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, for garnish
Instructions
FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:
- Place ingredients in a jar, tighten the lid, and shake until incorporated.
FOR THE SALAD:
- Cook pasta, according to package directions, in well-salted water. Drain, rinse, and cool.
- In a large bowl, combine all salad ingredients. Toss with about â…” of the vinaigrette until everything is evenly coated (reserve the remaining â…“ of the vinaigrette to add just before serving).
- Cover salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Remove from the refrigerator, add diced avocado, and stir in remaining vinaigrette (to taste). Garnish with dill, if desired.
Notes
- When I make pasta salad, I like to add the majority of the dressing when I mix everything together and then allow the flavors to blend in the refrigerator for several hours. Most of the dressing gets absorbed into the pasta during this time, so I typically stir in some additional dressing just before serving for extra moisture and flavor. But if you feel that using the entire amount of vinaigrette would be too much, simply add the amount that suits your tastes.
- I like to add avocado just before serving so that it doesn't turn brown.
Adapted from Tomato Cucumber Salad with Olives & Feta
Erica
This is possibly our favorite pasta salad ever!! It’s so refreshing!!
Karen Zaorski
Thanks for the inspiration. To my pasta I added sliced black olives, halved grape tomatoes, garbanzo beans, diced avocado, chopped yellow pepper, a little bit of grated carrot for bright color, sliced salami and shredded asiago parmesan cheese. Like you I reserved some of the tasty vinaigrette to add prior to serving. Delicious!
LIndsey
3/4 cup seems like a lot of olive oil for 1/2 lb of pasta. Is the measurement correct?
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Yes, Lindsey, it's correct...there are lots of cucumbers and tomatoes in this salad in addition to the pasta. Since you only add 2/3 of the dressing before chilling, it's up to you how much of the remaining dressing you'd like to mix in before serving. However, I usually find that it needs it a bit more since the pasta absorbs the dressing while it chills. Hope that helps...enjoy! 🙂
Lucy
Hi, I was was hoping you could help me cheat a little. I am wanting to make this salad but am on a very tight budget (as a student) and was wondering if I could use a shop bought salad dressing instead. I know it won't taste as good, but are there any you would recommend? I have the choice of a Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, a classic French salad dressing, a her and garlic style dressing or a honey and mustard dressing. Would any of these work better? Perhaps you would recommend adding 1 or 2 things to one of these sauces? Thanks so much for your help, the salad looks fantastic!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Hi Lucy! I think you could definitely use a store-bought salad dressing and this recipe would still turn out tasty! As far as what kind, I think that really depends on your taste and your favorite variety of dressing. Out of the options you suggested, I think all of them would work except perhaps the honey mustard. But any kind of vinaigrette-type dressing would be comparable to the homemade salad dressing in this recipe. And you can always dress up a vinegar-based dressing with more herbs! I would still recommend using the fresh dill in this recipe if you can find it and if it's not too expensive. Good luck and I hope you enjoy this salad when you try it!
Rachel @ Craving some Creativity
You fit pretty much all of my favorite things in one salad and I am drooling over this! Pinned and definitely making first chance I get.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Rachel! These are some of my favorite ingredients, too. 😉 I appreciate the pin and hope you enjoy this pasta salad when you have a chance to try it. Happy Friday! 🙂
Pure Grace Farms
Sopping by to let you know I have featured your fabulous post today on the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop (Tues 7PM EST).
Blessings,
Shari
Samantha at Five Heart Home
What an honor to be featured, Shari! Thanks so much for stopping back by to let me know. 🙂
Michele @ Alwayzbakin
Will definitely be trying this! This sounds SO good.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Michele...enjoy! And have a great week! 🙂
Michelle
This looks SO good! How much avocado do you use?
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Oh my goodness, Michelle...well it would be helpful if I added that info, wouldn't it? 😉 You can add as much avocado as you like, but I typically use 2 to 3 of them (depending on their size). I also stir in the avocado just before serving so that it doesn't turn brown. I've updated the recipe...thanks so much for pointing out my omission! Happy 4th! 🙂
Justine Y
This looks and sounds delicious! Pinned!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Justine...I appreciate that! 🙂 Hope your week is off to a great start!
Melanie James
Stopping by from Create It Thursday, and I'm glad I did. This looks delicious. Can't wait to try it!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
I'm so happy that you hopped over, Melanie! Hope you had a fantastic 4th, and I hope you enjoy this salad if you have a chance to try it! 🙂
Barbara W.
This looks fantastic! I'm really looking forward to trying it.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
I hope you love it, Barbara! Have a happy 4th! 🙂
Cathy
This has everything I love in it and looks absolutely delish... can't waith to try it
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Cathy! These are some of my favorite ingredients as well. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Jennie
Looks so good! I love avocado! Thanks for sharing!
-Jennie
Samantha at Five Heart Home
You're very welcome, Jennie! Hope you love this if you have a chance to try it, and hope you're having a great week! 🙂
Julie
Mmm....I love feta and avocado. Looks delicious, as always, Samantha!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
And thank you, as always, Julie! Avocado and feta make everything better, don't they? 😉 Hope y'all have a very happy 4th!
Pure Grace Farms
Stopping by from Totally Tuesdays. This salad looks amazing; so bright and fresh! Would love it if you would stop by and share at the Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop this evening (Tues. 7 PM Est).
Blessings,
Shari
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thanks so much, Shari! And I appreciate the invite to your link party...I just hopped over and linked up. 🙂
Liz
Thank you for the nice recipes. Happy 4th to you and your family.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
As always, Liz, you are so very welcome! And I hope that you have a wonderful 4th as well! 🙂
Kristin
This is a must try - looks yummy! I can so relate can't count how many times I was positive I bought something and it wasn't there.
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Ha, Kristin...so glad I'm not the only one! I feel pretty scatterbrained these days as it already is, and that only gets compounded when I have to take 3 kids to the grocery store! 😉 Hope you enjoy this pasta salad and that you're having a great week. Happy (almost) 4th! 🙂