Fresh California Salad Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

A colorful pasta salad brimming with vegetables, fresh herbs, and zesty homemade dressing for refreshing flavor.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 ounces dried spaghetti

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
04 - 1 medium bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
07 - 1/2 cup pitted black olives, sliced
08 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

→ Dressing

09 - 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
15 - 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
16 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

17 - 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese or mozzarella pearls
18 - Additional chopped parsley, for serving

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 9-11 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil and toss to prevent sticking. Set aside to cool.
02 - While the pasta cooks, dice the cucumber, bell pepper, and carrots. Slice the cherry tomatoes in half and finely dice the red onion. Soak the diced red onion in cold water for 1 minute to reduce sharpness, then drain well. Slice the olives and chop the parsley.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, sugar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled spaghetti, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, carrots, olives, and parsley. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently with two large spoons to evenly coat all ingredients.
05 - Cover and chill the salad in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight, to allow flavors to meld.
06 - Before serving, give the salad a gentle toss. Sprinkle with crumbled feta or mozzarella and extra parsley. Serve chilled.

# Additional Suggestions:

01 - For best flavor, prepare the salad a day in advance and add cheese just before serving.
02 - Snap spaghetti in half before boiling for bite-sized pieces.
03 - If tomatoes are very juicy, add them closer to serving time to prevent excess moisture.
04 - Swap red wine vinegar for apple cider or white wine vinegar as needed.

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