Three-cheese And Olive Pasta Salad

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 3 cups medium pasta shells
• 1 1/2 cups kalamata olives, pitted and sliced (can use canned sliced black olives, drained in place of brine-cured)
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup feta cheese
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, diced
• 1/2 cup gouda cheese, grated
• 5 -6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or use 1-2 teaspoons dry basil)
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar (or more to taste)
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 cook the pasta in boiling water until just firm-tender (don't overcook) drain well under cold water.
• 2 transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss with a couple tablespoons with olive oil so that the pasta will not stick.
• 3 add in the olives, bell pepper, all of the cheeses and fresh basil (or dryed basil if using); toss to combine.
• 4 in a small bowl whisk together the oil, vinegar and sugar; pour over the pasta and cheese in the bowl and toss to combine well.
• 5 season with salt and lots of black pepper.
• 6 cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.