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Pesto Pasta Salad
Whip up a quick and delicious pesto pasta salad with five simple ingredients. Perfect for picnics, parties, or a satisfying side dish. Try it today!
Course
Salad
Cuisine
Italian
Keyword
mozzarella cheese, pasta, pesto sauce
Prep Time
15
minutes
minutes
Cook Time
10
minutes
minutes
Total Time
25
minutes
minutes
Servings
4
Calories
1036
kcal
Author
Corrie
Ingredients
8
ounces
pasta
penne or rotini
½
cup
pesto sauce
1
cup
cherry tomatoes
halved
1
cup
mozzarella cheese
cubed
¼
cup
fresh basil leaves
2
tablespoons
pine nuts
toasted
1
tablespoon
lemon juice
optional
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool.
In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta and pesto sauce until well coated.
Add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and toasted pine nuts. Toss gently.
If desired, squeeze lemon juice over the salad for a zesty kick.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for an hour before serving for best flavor.
Notes
Don't overcook pasta; it should be al dente, slightly firm.
Toast pine nuts for a nuttier flavor.
Mix in a little lemon juice for extra zing.
Make pesto at home for a fresher taste.
Add grilled chicken or shrimp for protein.
Nutrition
Calories:
1036
kcal
|
Carbohydrates:
34
g
|
Protein:
38
g
|
Fat:
86
g
|
Saturated Fat:
24
g
|
Polyunsaturated Fat:
8
g
|
Monounsaturated Fat:
11
g
|
Cholesterol:
98
mg
|
Sodium:
2954
mg
|
Potassium:
1236
mg
|
Fiber:
7
g
|
Sugar:
18
g
|
Vitamin A:
5291
IU
|
Vitamin C:
57
mg
|
Calcium:
828
mg
|
Iron:
6
mg