Tomatoes, kalamata olives, and mozzarella balls are tossed with pasta in a creamy pesto dressing for a lightweight and flavor-packed picnic or potluck dish.
- Taste: This pesto pasta salad is herby, garlicky, and tangy with creamy bites of mozzarella and juicy tomatoes.
- Talent Stage: This beginner-friendly recipe makes use of a 3-ingredient dressing, tossed with a handful of different components.
- Price range Tip: Deplete leftover veggie bits and add further pasta to stretch the recipe additional.
- Serving Recommendations: Make it a fundamental dish and add leftover rooster, shrimp, salmon, or tofu.
Ingredient Ideas for Pesto Pasta Salad
- Pasta: Search for pasta shapes with grooves, tubes, or twists for the pesto dressing to cling to. Penne, rotini, cavatappi, and bow-tie are nice choices.
- Dressing: Use store-bought pesto or make home made basil pesto. Attempt swapping out the mayonnaise for plain Greek yogurt for fewer energy and a lighter taste.
- Veggies: Sundried tomatoes present a chewy texture whereas grape or cherry tomatoes add shade and sweetness. You may also use chopped spinach, diced cucumbers, corn kernels, peas, or diced bell peppers.
- Cheese: Use bite-sized bocconcini balls or reduce a bigger ball of contemporary mozzarella into small cubes. Feta, gorgonzola, or blue cheese crumbles can be utilized as an alternative of mozzarella.
Storing Pesto Pasta Salad
Prep pesto pasta salad no less than 2 hours however as much as two days forward of time. Toss components collectively, cowl, and chill within the fridge till able to serve.
Preserve leftover pesto pasta salad in a lined container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Freezing isn’t beneficial.
Mediterranean Impressed Pasta Salad Recipes
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Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto pasta salad is simple to make and will be served as a facet dish or fundamental dish!
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In a big pot of salted water, cook dinner pasta al dente, and drain effectively. Rinse below chilly water to cease cooking.
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In a small bowl, whisk pesto, mayonnaise, and crimson wine vinegar.
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In a big bowl, mix the drained pasta, grape tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, and olives. Add the dressing and toss effectively to mix. Style and season with further salt and pepper if desired.
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Refrigerate for no less than 2 hours earlier than serving.
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Chop contemporary basil and sprinkle on prime simply earlier than serving
- Rinse the pasta in chilly water to cease the cooking course of and hold pasta agency.
- Because the salad sits, it can soak up dressing, so you’ll want to gown generously.
- Non-compulsory additions embrace parmesan cheese, contemporary spinach, capers, or a squeeze of lemon juice.
*If utilizing home made pesto, the pasta salad and leftover pesto needs to be refrigerated and consumed inside 3 days.
Energy: 338 | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 9g | Fats: 19g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 5g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.02g | Ldl cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 443mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 767IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 1mg
Diet info offered is an estimate and can differ primarily based on cooking strategies and types of components used.
Course Pasta, Salad, Aspect Dish
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