Description
Pesto pasta salad is a delightful dish that brings together the rich, fresh flavors of basil pesto with perfectly cooked pasta and colorful vegetables. This refreshing salad is perfect for lunch, potlucks, or as a side at family gatherings. With its vibrant ingredients like cherry tomatoes and mozzarella, each bite is a burst of flavor that everyone will enjoy. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for busy days. Customize it to your taste by adding your favorite veggies or proteins for a personalized twist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound of pasta (cavatelli or penne)
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella, diced
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped pepperoncini
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- For the basil pesto: 3 cups basil leaves
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until tender; drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a food processor, blend basil leaves, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooled pasta with pesto, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoncini, and parsley; toss well.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 15mg