Greek Pasta

When we think of pasta, we immediately think of Italy, but pasta was originally created in Ancient China and then spread to other parts of the world. Pasta has been a part of the Greek diet since the ancient times as well.

In early Greece, pasta was a simple dish of nourishing food. It was made from the wheat that has been a staple in the Greek diets throughout the times. Greek pasta dishes often include local ingredients and flavors, reflecting the Mediterranean diet. Traditional recipes may feature pasta in soups, baked dishes, or with various sauces. The term “macaroni” has Greek origins, further emphasizing the cultural significance of pasta in Greek cuisine. In Ancient Greece, pasta was a flattened dough was cut into thin slices. The earliest mentions of a pasta-like food come from Ancient Greece around 1000 BC. This food, called laganon (plural laganae, Greek: λάγανον), was a flat sheet of dough that could be cut into strips, similar to lasagna today, was arguably marking the first pasta-like preparation in the Mediterranean.

Unbeknownst to me at the time when I made my Greek pasta, I was actually making it in a very traditional way, using local ingredients and produce.

Greek Pasta Salad

I used the remainder of my herbed vinaigrette that I used as the marinade for my chicken, Chicken Souvlaki, then added a bunch of fresh vegetables and my leftover pasta, and tossed it all together. It can be served cold, room temperature or hot; whatever your preference is.

1/2 cup herbed vinaigrette

1-2 cups cooked pasta of your choice

1/4 cup mixed olives, sliced

1-2 tomatoes, diced

1/4 green bell pepper,diced

1/4 red bell pepper,diced

1/4 red onion, diced

1/2 cucumber, sliced, optional- don’t use if you are going to heat up the pasta salad

1 TBSP capers

fresh ground black pepper to taste

Toss everything together and serve, or chill and to serve it later.

Pretty easy-peasy and very tasty too. Serve it next to anything you like or make it to take with you when you are on the go.

Life is short. Make the most out of everyday and live life to the fullest. Enjoy the ride. Have a great day and make everyday great. ‘Til next time.