Pasta salad with handmade sausage

With Mediterranean flavors and a creamy yogurt dressing.

Materials

• 350g (fully cooked) handmade sausage (chicken or pork), sliced
• 1 teaspoon ground thyme
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil
• 1 kg of dry pasta of your choice, cooked and cooled (penne, screw, short macaroni)
• 1 cup mixed olives, pitted and halved
• ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ¼ red onion, chopped
• 100 grams of crumbled feta cheese
• about 350 grams of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 cup diced cucumbers (about 1 small cucumber)

For the sauce

• 1 cup yogurt
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup virgin olive oil
• 1 large clove garlic, minced, plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 1½ teaspoons dried dill
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Step by step process

1. In a large bowl, combine the thyme, garlic, cumin, oregano, pepper, salt and olive oil. Add the sausage and toss until fully coated.
2. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sausage in a single layer and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Return the sausage to the large bowl.
3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Add the cooked pasta, olives, parsley, red onion, feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers to the bowl with the sausage and toss. Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture and toss until completely coated.
5. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Good appetite!