A pasta salad that tastes like your favorite cocktail? Yes, please! This Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is briny, zesty, full of savory olives, and finished with tangy feta—basically a martini in a picnic-perfect bowl. It’s the perfect dish when you want something a little unexpected, a lot delicious, and absolutely impossible to resist.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Totally Unexpected Flavors: If you love a classic dirty martini, this is the pasta salad twist that brings all that cocktail magic to your table.
- Easy, Fast, and Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for busy days or prepping in advance for gatherings—just mix, chill, and serve!
- Salty, Tangy, and Satisfying: Each bite is loaded with briny olives, creamy feta, zippy lemon, and a hit of savory richness from the olive oil and brine.
- Crowd-Pleasing Party Starter: This Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is the conversation piece your next potluck or cookout needs.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Dirty Martini Pasta Salad serves a purpose, and you don’t need anything fancy or hard to find! The mix of briny, bold, and bright elements creates the irresistible cocktail-inspired taste that makes this dish such a showstopper.
- Pasta of choice (½ pound): Short cuts like Mafalda Corta, rotini, or penne are perfect for catching all the tangy dressing and bits of olive.
- Pitted large green olives (1 cup, roughly chopped): The star that brings in the classic martini flavor. Go for meaty, briny varieties like Castelvetrano or Spanish Queen olives.
- Feta cheese or blue cheese crumbles (100g): Feta brings a creamy tang, or try blue cheese for a true martini-inspired bite!
- Extra virgin olive oil (⅓ cup): Rich, peppery, and the backbone of the quick vinaigrette.
- Olive brine (¼ cup): This is the “dirty” in Dirty Martini Pasta Salad, so don’t skip it! It adds an assertive, salty flavor you’ll crave.
- Fresh minced garlic (1 clove): Adds a hint of sharpness and aroma to tie it all together.
- Lemon: Both zest and juice—brightens things up with fresh citrusy zing.
- Black pepper to taste: Lends gentle heat and depth, especially delicious with the cheeses and olives.
Variations
One of the best things about Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is how easy it is to make it your own! Use what you love or have on hand—there’s plenty of room to get creative whether you need to adjust for allergies, preferences, or what’s in your fridge.
- Switch up the cheese: Use creamy goat cheese for a milder tang, or swap in blue cheese crumbles for even more martini attitude.
- Go gluten-free: Any sturdy gluten-free pasta will soak up the flavors and keep the salad completely satisfying for everyone.
- Try mixed olives: Blend green and black olives, or toss in stuffed varieties (hello, pimento or garlic-stuffed!) for extra flair.
- Add veggies: Toss in diced roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, or finely sliced celery for color and crunch.
- Make it vegan: Choose a vegan feta or skip the cheese for a briny, plant-based version that still channels all the dirty martini vibes.
How to Make Dirty Martini Pasta Salad
Step 1: Cook and Cool the Pasta
Begin by boiling your favorite short pasta in a large pot of lightly salted water. Cook it according to the package directions until al dente—remember, you want some texture! Immediately drain and rinse the pasta under cold water to stop the cooking and ensure every piece stays perfectly firm and ready to soak up that fabulous dressing.
Step 2: Shake Up the Dirty Martini Dressing
In a small mason jar or a bowl with a lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, olive brine, minced garlic, zest of half a lemon, juice of about a quarter of the lemon, and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper. Seal tightly and shake it like a proper cocktail until everything is beautifully blended—this is where the magic happens.
Step 3: Toss Everything Together
Transfer your cooled pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add in the roughly chopped green olives and cubed feta (or blue cheese). Pour the martini-inspired dressing right over the top and toss well to coat every single piece in that zippy, briny goodness. Taste and adjust: add more lemon juice, black pepper, or a pinch of salt only if needed—the brine and cheese already bring major saltiness.
Step 4: Chill and Serve
Pop your Dirty Martini Pasta Salad in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors mingle and deepen. Just before serving, let it sit out for about 15 minutes so the texture is at its best. Every forkful is like a refreshing, savory cocktail hour in a bowl!
Pro Tips for Making Dirty Martini Pasta Salad
- Keep It Al Dente: Slightly undercook your pasta—the firmer texture stands up better to tossing and soaking up the martini-inspired vinaigrette.
- Salt with Caution: Only very lightly salt the pasta water, and never add salt to the finished salad until you’ve tasted it—olive brine and feta take care of plenty of seasoning already.
- Chill, Then Warm Up: After chilling to develop flavor, let the salad come up to room temp for the best pasta texture and more pronounced flavors.
- Martini Olive Upgrade: For an extra splash of fun, garnish with a few whole, pimento-stuffed olives just before serving!
How to Serve Dirty Martini Pasta Salad
Garnishes
Sprinkle Dirty Martini Pasta Salad with extra feta, a scattering of whole olives, a twist or thin peel of lemon, and a final crack of black pepper. A little fresh parsley or even a celery leaf gives a playful, cocktail-bar look and a burst of herbal freshness.
Side Dishes
This pasta salad is bold enough to headline your picnic spread or barbecue table. Pair it with grilled chicken skewers, smoky salmon, or even simple roasted vegetables. For a lighter touch, serve with a crisp green salad and some good crusty bread to mop up every last bit of dressing.
Creative Ways to Present
For extra flair, pile your Dirty Martini Pasta Salad in martini glasses or little coupe bowls for a cocktail party vibe! Make these as individual appetizers for a gathering, or serve family-style in a big, shallow platter garnished with lots of olives on skewers.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Transfer any extra Dirty Martini Pasta Salad to an airtight container and refrigerate. It keeps beautifully for up to three days, and the flavors actually deepen as it rests. Just give it a quick toss before serving again.
Freezing
Pasta salads made with lots of fresh veggies and cheese don’t freeze well—the texture suffers when thawed. Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is best enjoyed fresh or after a short chill in the fridge. If you do freeze it, expect the cheese to be a bit crumbly and the dressing to separate.
Reheating
This salad is meant to be served chilled or at room temperature—no reheating required! If it’s been in the fridge, just let it stand out for 10-15 minutes to lose the chill, and then enjoy the briny, punchy flavors at their absolute best.
FAQs
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Can I use other types of olives in Dirty Martini Pasta Salad?
Absolutely! While green olives are classic for that true martini flavor, you can use any type of olive you love or have on hand—black olives, Castelvetrano, or even stuffed olives work beautifully and add variety to each bite.
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How long does Dirty Martini Pasta Salad keep in the refrigerator?
Stored in an airtight container, Dirty Martini Pasta Salad will keep for up to three days in the refrigerator. The flavors continue to develop, so it actually tastes even better after a night in the fridge.
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What’s the best pasta shape for Dirty Martini Pasta Salad?
Short, curly, or ridged pasta shapes like Mafalda Corta, rotini, or penne work best because they hold onto the tangy dressing and the chunky bits of cheese and olives. Avoid long noodles—they don’t mix as well in a pasta salad.
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Is this recipe suitable for vegetarians or gluten-free diets?
Yes! Choose vegetarian feta or blue cheese if needed, and simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta to make this Dirty Martini Pasta Salad friendly for everyone at the table.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to shake up your potluck lineup or surprise your friends with something totally new, Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is going to win hearts and spark conversations. Give it a try—the flavors are bold, fun, and irresistibly crave-worthy. I can’t wait for you to fall in love with it as much as I have!
Print
Dirty Martini Pasta Salad Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Mixing, Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian, Fusion
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Dirty Martini Pasta Salad is a unique twist on a classic dish, combining the flavors of a dirty martini with a refreshing pasta salad. Tangy olives, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty dressing make this a perfect summer side dish or light main course.
Ingredients
Pasta:
- 1/2 pound pasta of choice
Dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup olive brine
- 1 clove fresh minced garlic
- Zest of half a lemon
- Juice of 1/4 lemon
- Black pepper to taste
Additional:
- 1 cup pitted large green olives, roughly chopped
- 100g feta cheese, cubed or blue cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the pasta in salted water, drain, and rinse with cold water.
- Make the Dressing: Combine olive oil, olive brine, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper in a mason jar. Shake to combine.
- Assemble the Salad: In a bowl, mix pasta, olives, and feta. Add dressing and toss to coat.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste and adjust with more pepper, lemon juice, or salt if needed.
- Serve: Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Very lightly salt the pasta water and taste before adding more salt.
- Use any type of olives, but green olives are classic.
- Gluten-free pasta can be used.
- Chill the salad for flavors to blend.
- Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
