Greek Pasta Salad Gluten Free

Fantastic Greek flavors help to make this gluten free Greek Pasta salad a tasty dish everyone will enjoy.

I have a very good friend, who along with her husband, love to entertain.  She usually has some type of informal get together once every 3 months or so. Friends will come together to eat, drink and of course, be merry.  There is plenty of fun conversation, good food, drink and board games. No, you are never too old for board games and if it is Trivial Pursuit, you just may learn something!! We eat, we laugh, it is just a great time together.

Most of these gatherings will have each guest bringing a dish or two.  I love that!  You wonder why, since it is someone else’s party?

Well, for a couple of reasons.

1. I bring food I know I  can eat and enjoy (gluten free/dairy free) without suffering any physical reaction.

2. I love to cook.

3. I luuhhve receiving compliments on my dishes. I ain’t proud, this southern girl likes praise anywhere she can get it!!

4. And the BEST reason, I really enjoy seeing the shocked look on their faces when they learn they have eaten gluten/dairy free food and it was delicious!!!

My contributions for this party was my Potato salad made with sweet and white potatoes, jalapeños and pickled okra. My latest dessert creation, Caramel Cake (I had to make 2 on the same day because our taste testing got a little out of hand).  And this Greek Pasta Salad.

I am a huge (in my mind, not body) fan of Greek salads.  Since I did not want to deal with wilting lettuce, I decided on this pasta creation.

What can I say?  The dressing tastes just like the tzatziki appetizer  that I love to order at Greek restaurants.  Now I admit, when I order I have to point to the menu and say “I want the T…sauce.” Yes, it has been pronounced for me and I have attempted to say it but between my ears hearing and getting it to come out of my mouth correctly, has not been successful (so far).

I am usually able to dissect flavors pretty well.  I knew it had yogurt, garlic, sometimes onion.  In my research I also found it is known as Cacik or tzatziki and is native to the Ottoman countries.  On a side note, I have learned so much since I began blogging. I have always wanted to know why and now I am finding out how and where. Anyway, to share my new found knowledge, sorry if you knew this already, the Ottoman nations consisted of Greece (of course), Turkey and Persia, which is present day Iran.

The traditional Tzatziki consisted of a salted strained yogurt or yogurt mixed with garlic, salt, olive oil, cucumbers, sometimes vinegar or lemon juice, and herbs such as dill, mint, parsley, thyme, etc.  So the dressing for this salad comes very close.  I personally think this dressing  tastes just like the dish I order at my favorite Greek eatery.

What can I say?  This pasta salad has some of my favorite ingredients: pasta, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta cheese.  The combination with the dressing is wonderful!

This salad is so easy, so delicious and is gluten free and dairy free!!!

Hope you have a party you can take it to or heck, just make it for  your family and have your own party at home!!

Greek Pasta Salad Gluten Free

 

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Author: lets be yummy

Ingredients

• 16 ounces plain yogurt*
• ¼ olive oil
• 1 Tablespoon fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dry dill
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 3 garlic cloves
• 16 ounce package gluten free penne pasta or any type of pasta**
• 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
• 1 cup cucumber peeled, seeded and diced
• 1 cup tomato, chopped
• 10 ounces marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1½ cups crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Process the first 7 ingredients in a food processor until thoroughly blended.
2. Transfer to a bowl and cover. Chill 1 to 24 hours.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.
4. Place cooled pasta in a large bowl. Stir in olives, cucumbers and artichokes until well blended.
5. Add yogurt mixture and stir just until well coated.
6. Gently stir in feta cheese and tomatoes.
7. Cover and chill 1 hour.

Notes

*I use yogurt made from goat's milk
**I use a gluten free pasta made from corn.
*********DISCLAIMER*************
This pasta salad should only be eaten the day it is made. Some gluten free pasta can have a flavor and texture change when refrigerated over night.

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Non Gluten option to serve with this Greek Pasta Salad Gluten Free