Feta, rocket and ollive pasta salad

mintedfetarocket 

Ingredients

 

  • 350g/12oz penne, rigatoni or other similar shaped pasta
  • 8-10 large sprigs of mint, leaves removed, and chopped/torn if large
  • 150g/5oz frozen peas
  • 200g/7oz feta cheese, crumbled
  • 50g/2oz bag of rocket leaves
  • 1 lemon, grated zest and juice
  • flaked sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 20-30 good-quality marinated green olives, pitted

Method

  

  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water with 2 sprigs of the mint for the time given on the packet. 3 minutes before the end of the cooking time, add the peas. Once the pasta and peas are cooked, drain in a colander and shake under cold running water until cool. Discard the mint sprigs.

  2. Transfer to a large bowl and add the feta cheese, rocket, remaining mint, the lemon zest and half the juice, salt and pepper and a good glug of olive oil. Either roughly chop or smash the olives in a pestle and mortar and add to the pasta. Toss well and add more lemon juice, seasoning or olive oil, if preferred.

  3. Pack in suitable containers for taking on a picnic or serve warm as part of a main course or starter with a barbecue.