Dirty Martini Pasta Salad

If a dirty martini is your drink of choice, then you're going to love this Dirty Martini Pasta Salad. It's gone viral on Instagram and TikTok lately and as an olive lover, I couldn't resist making it. I've put my own spin on the viral recipe to create this delicious and simple pasta salad that is made from start to finish in 20 minutes.

You've got to like olives to like this recipe, there's no way around it. Briny green olives, salty feta cheese, and chewy pasta are tossed in an easy homemade dressing featuring olive oil, olive brine, lemon, garlic, and black pepper. It's got all the flavours of a classic dirty martini! It couldn't be easier to make—find out how below.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's a dirty martini cocktail in pasta salad form! Have your drink on the side, and eat it too.
• This recipe is super simple. It uses mostly pantry staples, and is ready in 20 minutes.
• Keeps well in the fridge for days.
• It would make a great summer lunch or BBQ side dish.
• It is naturally vegetarian and you could use gluten-free pasta or vegan feta to suit your dietary needs.
• You can easily add a protein like chicken, tofu, or steak on the side.

If you like this, you'll also like these fun salad recipes: High Protein Pasta Salad, Mexican Street Corn Salad, Mango Pineapple Quinoa Salad, Gluten Free Broccoli Salad, and Gluten Free Panzanella Salad.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here is everything you'll need to make this dirty martini pasta salad:

• Pasta of choice: The pasta used here is called Mafalda Corta by Garofalo. Use gluten-free pasta if required.
• Pitted large green olives: It is important to choose an olive that you enjoy the taste of. You could use any type of olives, however green olives are most classic in a martini. I used pitted and pimento-stuffed Manzanilla olives. Other popular green olives are Castelvetrano olives, Cerignola olives, and Picholine olives.
• Feta cheese: You could also use blue cheese crumbles or goat cheese.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Olive brine: From the jar of olives.
• Fresh minced garlic: Fresh really tastes better than the pre-minced garlic.
• Lemon: For lemon zest and juice.
• Black pepper to taste. A good amount of pepper balances the salty flavors in this recipe.

How to make this recipe...

Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta
Vegetarian: This recipe is naturally vegetarian
Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free feta alternative or omit the cheese
Vegan: Use a dairy-free feta alternative or omit the cheese
Nut-free: This recipe is naturally nut-free

Step-by-Step Instructions

Be sure to read the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and instructions.

Cook the pasta in a large pot of lightly salted boiling water according to the package instructions for al dente. Drain and rinse the pasta with cold water.

(1) In a small mason jar, make the dressing. Combine the olive oil, olive brine, minced garlic, zest of half the lemon, juice of ¼ lemon, and a good amount of black pepper. Close and shake until combined.

(2) In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, roughly chopped olives, and feta cubes.

(3) Pour the dressing on top and toss to coat everything. Taste and add more pepper, lemon juice, or salt if necessary. Enjoy!

What to Eat With Dirty Martini Pasta Salad

This recipe is hearty enough to be a filling vegetarian lunch. For more protein, you could add cubes of plant-based protein like tofu or falafel bites. You could also enjoy it with a piece of grilled meat on the side like rotisserie chicken, pork, steak, or shrimp. Serve among side salads at a summer BBQ or make ahead for meal prepped lunches.

Storage

Store pasta salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before enjoying for the best texture.

Expert Tips

Here are some of my top tips and tricks for successful pasta salad:

• Very lightly salt the pasta water and do not add any salt to the pasta salad until you've tasted it at the end. The olive brine and feta are very salty, so you don't want to over-salt.
• Undercook the pasta slightly so it does not fall apart.
• Rinse the pasta with cold water. This will immediately stop the cooking process to prevent overcooked pasta.
• Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. So the flavors can mingle.
• Add more protein with tofu cubes, falafel, grilled chicken, steak, etc.
• Serve as an appetizer, side, snack, or even lunch. This pasta salad is great for a multitude of occasions.
• It will keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days, so this recipe is perfect to prep for to-go lunches for work or school.

Frequently Asked Questions

This dirty martini pasta salad is a viral recipe for martini fans and olive lovers! It's salty, briny, fresh, and delicious. The perfect accompaniment for a summer lunch or BBQ party. Paired with a cold dirty martini? There's nothing better.

More Lunch Recipes

Have you tried the dirty martini pasta salad? I'd very much appreciate it if you leave a 5 star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and review below, and tag me on instagram @fromoliviaskitchen!