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kale pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese with feta and garlic dressing

Mediterranean Pasta Salad (Sam's Club Copycat)

This delicious Mediterranean pasta salad recipe is a copycat of one of our favorites from Sam's Club! It's loaded with spiral pasta, tender kale, sun-dried tomatoes, cheeses, and a basil garlic dressing.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Lunch, Pasta, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 6 2-cup servings
Calories 466 kcal

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Salad

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • 4 cups kale shredded
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
  • 1 cup feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

For the Garlic Basil Vinaigrette

  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 lemon juiced

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain in a colander and rinse until cold water until cool. Set the pasta aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded kale, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and the salt. With your hands massage the kale for 2-3 minutes, until the kale starts to break down and become tender.
  • To the massaged kale, add the cooked and cooled pasta, and the chopped sundried tomatoes.
  • To a blender, add the vinaigrette dressing ingredients: fresh basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic cloves, lemon juice, and Italian seasonings.
  • Start by blending the dressing on low speed, then work your way up to medium speed until the basil and garlic are blended into a sauce. If your dressing is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency you prefer.
  • Add the feta cheese to the salad, and pour the basil vinaigrette over the top.
  • Mix the pasta salad well, until all the ingredients are well-combined and the dressing covered all the pasta and kale. Add freshly grated parmesan cheese on top, and serve at room temperature.

Notes

Additions and Substitutions
    • Add grilled chicken, shrimp, canned chickpeas, white beans, or sliced seared steak to this Mediterranean kale pasta salad for extra protein.
    • For a spicier salad add thinly sliced red onions, or 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
    • Add fresh ingredients like cherry tomatoes, olives, or chopped cucumber.
    • The homemade dressing (with delicious herbs and fresh ingredients) makes this dish - but if you had to use a bottled dressing, try a red wine vinaigrette.
    • Try a different pasta shape - any medium noodle would be great: penne, medium shells, or even macaroni would be great substitutions.
Expert Tips
  • While this is a fantastic Sam's Club copycat recipe, it is not the authentic or official recipe from the store. It's my own adaptation of the flavor and ingredients.
  • Serve hot or cold! I enjoyed this as a cold salad, but it's also delicious warmed up for a great entree anytime.
  • If you use sub-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil, use the extra olive oil from the jar in the salad dressing for extra flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 466kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 15gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 474mgPotassium: 663mgFiber: 5gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 1864IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 253mgIron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Let us know how it was!