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Garlic Shrimp Pasta Salad - Bright, Fresh, and Ready in No Time

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

  • Shrimp: 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail removed if you prefer)
  • Pasta: 12 ounces short pasta (rotini, farfalle, or penne)
  • Cherry tomatoes: 1 pint, halved
  • English cucumber: 1 small, diced (or 2 Persian cucumbers)
  • Red bell pepper: 1, diced
  • Red onion: 1/4 small, thinly sliced
  • Fresh herbs: 1/2 cup chopped parsley and/or dill
  • Feta cheese: 3/4 cup, crumbled (optional but recommended)
  • Olives: 1/2 cup Kalamata, pitted and sliced (optional)
  • Olive oil: Extra-virgin for the dressing and cooking
  • Garlic: 4–5 cloves, finely minced or grated
  • Lemon: Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
  • Dijon mustard: 1 teaspoon
  • Honey: 1–2 teaspoons (or sugar), to balance acidity
  • Red pepper flakes: Pinch, to taste
  • Salt and black pepper: To taste

Method
 

  1. Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until just al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain and spread on a sheet pan to cool slightly.
  2. Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon, honey, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Adjust to taste—add a splash of pasta water if you want it silkier.
  3. Season the shrimp: Pat shrimp dry. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of salt, pepper, and a little lemon zest or garlic powder if you like.
  4. Cook the shrimp: Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add a thin film of olive oil. Cook shrimp 1–2 minutes per side, just until pink and opaque. Transfer to a plate to cool slightly.
  5. Toss the pasta: Add warm (not hot) pasta to the dressing bowl and toss well so it absorbs the flavors.
  6. Add the veggies: Fold in tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion. Sprinkle in the herbs and olives, then add the shrimp.
  7. Finish with feta: Gently mix in crumbled feta. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, lemon, and honey as needed. If it seems dry, add a splash more olive oil or pasta water.
  8. Chill or serve: Serve slightly warm, or cover and chill for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to meld. Stir before serving.