Fattoush Pasta Salad

When I first found this prize-winning salad, I wasn't sure my family would like it, even though everyone reviewing it raved about it; it contained ingredients we've never been drawn to, such as radishes and "Greek Seasoning" (whatever that is). However, I'm very happy to report we loved it! I made it as a trial-run for a potential graduation party salad, loved it, and then made it again for the party.

I found the recipe via this Pinterest pin. I was a little put-off about the number of ingredients (Was this recipe complicated?), but it's actually very simple, so don't be intimidated. Just get your prep dishes ready :)

For a printer friendly version of this recipe, click here.

Ingredients:
In my photo, you'll see portions for quadrupling the recipe, since I made it for a graduation party. Missing from the photo are the mint and the red onion, which Mr.4444 was shopping for when I took the photo:

1 box Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Classic pasta salad mix

Dressing:
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tsps Greek seasoning
the seasoning packet from the Suddenly Salad mix

The Rest:
1 1/2 cup coarsely-chopped cucumbers (one good-sized but skinny cuke)
1 cup coarsely-chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup thinly-sliced zucchini
1/3 cup thinly-sliced radishes
1/3 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
2 cups garlic-flavored croutons or pita chips
1 tbls finely chopped, fresh mint leaves

Mix the seasoning packet, olive oil, lemon juice, and Greek seasoning in a small bowl. Set aside.

Cook the pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients. When I made this, I didn't have any mint, so I left it out, but I look forward to trying it next time.

Lettuce

Grape Tomatoes

Cukes

Zucchini

Radishes

I just got these stainless bowls (Pampered Chef--killer deal because I sold a bunch of stuff in a book party) the day before the party, and I am totally in love!! Notice the measurements inside the bowl; that made prepping a lot easier, especially since I was making so much.

Feta Cheese

Parsley

(Don't forget the red onion and the mint.)

Garlic-flavored croutons or Pita Chips

I broke them into small pieces.

Throw everything together.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll confess that I mixed mine in this:

In my defense, it was brand-new, and it is called Homer's "All-Purpose" Bucket.

Add the dressing. Stir.

and refrigerate "for at least an hour." I didn't have an hour the first time I made this, so we ate it right away and found it to be deliciously flavorful. I had some again the next day, and it was still wonderful. I brought party leftovers to work two days later, and people still raved about it, so it holds up well.

Reviewers of this recipe noted that croutons or pita chips get a little soggy after a while, but I didn't think that took away from the salad.

***

As stated previously, I quadrupled this recipe for the party, and in case you're interested in doing the same, here are the amounts I ended up using:
3-4 skinny cukes
4 small, skinny zucchinis 

1 whole red onion
1 full head of Romaine lettuce
2 of the containers of grape tomatoes
3 4-oz containers of Feta cheese
2 bags of pita chips
1 bunch of parsley
1 bunch of radishes

This made more than enough for 50 guests.