It’s spring which means there are plenty of fruits and vegetables in season. When I think of heart healthy recipes I think about a hearty meal with plenty of fresh vegetables.
I like creating fresh dishes with products like Mazola® cooking oils which are made of 100% pure oil with no additives, so the great flavor of your food comes through. All Mazola® oils are cholesterol free so they are great for sauteing vegetables for your favorite salads.
Some of our favorite foods are inspired by my husband. Having lived over seas for many years we like to explore other flavors. So creating this simple Mediterranean salad was a taste for him.
Mediterranean Salad with Seasonal Vegetables Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cups Mazola® cooking oil
- 2 cups cooked pasta
- 1/4 cup asparagus
- 1/4 cup grape tomatoes
- 1/4 cup fresh mozzarella balls
- 1/4 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup plain feta cheese
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper
- 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
- 1/4 cup olives
- 2 TSP sumac
- 2 TSP garlic
I first started by prepping my vegetables and chopping them. You’ll want to first start by sauteing the asparagus, bell pepper, garlic, oil and sumac. I also added in the olives to break them down a little and make them slightly softer. It just added to the flavor!
While I am cooking my vegetables I allow them to just start to sweat and get soft. You don’t want them too cooked and mushy so just let them start to cook.
Also be sure to have your pasta ready, anything that you like will do.
Creating flavorful salads is easy once you have all of your ingredients easily put together. Simply toss together with the pasta and add your fresh cheeses. The sumac really makes this dish shine so add a little while you are tossing the salad.
I like to add fresh herbs like parsley to finish it off. It makes a great spring salad and since it has my seasonal favorite asparagus it’s all full of flavor!
Be sure to check out the other Mazola Recipes for this and other recipe ideas.
A new study shows Mazola Corn Oil lowers cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. Try it today for sautéing, stir frying and baking. Go to Mazola.com to learn more.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Mazola via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Mazola.
This looks so amazing, so light and fresh! I would love to make this for dinner, a great break for the normal dinners in our home.
looks fabulous. great way to get more veggies in!!
WOW! That is an amazing salad! I could totally indulge in that and not feel one ounce of guilt!
I’m so happy to find this recipe because I had a similar salad when I traveled to Colorado last year. I couldn’t remember exactly what was in it, but this is very similar. Love it!
Wow, that looks insanely delicious! I love fresh pasta salads, I’m going to have to try this!
That looks amazing. I love that you added olives!
that sounds delicious and well balanced, your pictures are great!
A while back, I discovered a veggie panini at the local Mediterranean restaurant. I absolutely fell in love with it and always order it instead of my (previously) favorite, Gyro. This salad has a lot of the same ingredients so I’m sure I would love it.
That is a FANTASTIC looking salad! Now I am craving this. LOL!
How colorful and delicious looking! I will have to pass on to a friend who is on a mainly Mediterranean diet.
Ooh! I need to eat healthier, I really do. I should give this a try!
This looks delicious. It reminds me of summer time and picnics!
Oooo I love trying new recipes and this looks like a healthy meal that would taste great!
Oh man!! No I want a greek salad!! This looks amazing and your pictures are awesome!
What a yummy looking salad. Will be great for a spring brunch.
Oh now that just looks fabulous! So very tasty and I have to try it!
Oh boy, this looks amazing and great presentation by the way. Looks so delectable.
That salad looks great and I love the Feta Cheese. I am going to have try the oil in one of my salads in the place of my usual and see how it tastes.
My sister in law would love tha! What sort of pasta did you use, I’m not sue I’ve seen it begore.
This is my kind of salad… looks delicious… I think we will dish this up tomorrow, I have everything already and with a nice french bread, I think this will be a hit, thanks for sharing
i love all the colors in it. this would make a great spring meal. thanks.
This recipe looks so delicious and I would love to make this for a nice Summer time salad to go with my barbecue meat. Thanks for an awesome recipe.
I think that you have shared a nice refreshing recipe here to have for a nice dinner with my family when they come to visit. It is a healthy dish and I like type of pasta you used.
All great ingredients! I usually buy this at our deli, but i think im going to try to make it by this recipe here. Love the pictures, looks so good.
This looks amazing !!! I am definitely going to have to try this recipe 🙂
This looks so tasty. I really love feta cheese. It would be perfect to make and have portioned out for a few lunches!
This is a beautiful salad, and I like the idea of breaking the olives down a little, too. I’ve never tried sumac, I wonder how that would taste – all sounds very good!
This salad looks so yummy! I love the variety of all of the seasonal veggies in it. Pinning this recipe for later.