Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
A refreshing and flavorful pesto pasta salad featuring tender pasta, fresh basil pesto, juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and tangy pepperoncini. This dish combines vibrant ingredients tossed together for a perfect cold salad that’s ideal for picnics, potlucks, or light meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta Salad
- 1 pound pasta (such as cavatelli or penne)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella, cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped pepperoncini
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
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
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender according to package instructions. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool it down.
- Prepare the pesto: While the pasta cooks, combine the fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic cloves, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper in a food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Transfer the pesto to a bowl and set aside.
- Assemble the pasta salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, prepared basil pesto, halved cherry tomatoes, bite-sized mozzarella pieces, chopped red onion, pepperoncini, and parsley. Toss everything well to evenly coat the salad with pesto. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh basil and good quality parmesan cheese.
- Feel free to substitute pine nuts with walnuts or almonds if preferred.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead; just keep it refrigerated and toss before serving.
- Add grilled chicken or shrimp to make it a more substantial meal.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe suitable for gluten sensitivities.
Keywords: pesto pasta salad, basil pesto, cold pasta salad, Italian pasta salad, vegetarian pasta salad
Find it online: https://thedishspot.com/pesto-pasta-salad-recipe/
