Every woman has some secrets regarding how to make her own home feel welcoming. The following basil pesto pasta salad recipe is one that will come in handy for any household. When it comes to entertaining, having the best recipes is important and a good place to start is with an easy basil pesto pasta salad that can serve everyone.
You can combine the basil pesto pasta salad with many other ingredients such as cherry tomatoes, peas, nuts, and more if you feel like it. This recipe makes about six servings – you can adjust the ingredients if you need to make more.
The important thing is that you will have one of the best recipes for parties ready to go. Not only will this recipe be able to serve everyone, but they will also all be impressed with your cooking skills when you come out with a dish like this one.
Basil Pesto Pasta | Pesto Ingredients
The basil is the star of this recipe. Basil is a refreshing, easily recognizable ingredient that is used often in sauces like this. Every good pesto sauce comes with pine nuts or walnuts as well. The parmesan cheese will take things to the next level and the garlic cloves will add even more flavor.
Basil Pesto Pasta | Pesto Directions
Combine the pine nuts and basil and using a food processor you should give them a few pulses.
Add the garlic and give them a few more pulses.
Slowly add the olive oil in a constant, slow stream while the processor is on. Stop it from time to time to scrape the walls so you can achieve a uniform mix.
Add the cheese and pulse until nicely blended, then add a bit of salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad | Pasta Salad Ingredients
It is time to move on to the salad part of this recipe now that we have the pesto sauce done. Rotini pasta will be the main ingredient of the salad. But we don’t want to just make a pesto pasta.
Peas, chopped green olives, and cherry tomatoes will make great additions to your salad. You will want to buy as many of these ingredients in their fresh, raw form. This will enhance the end result immensely.
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad Directions
The first thing you have to do is cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Make sure it’s not too soft as you want them to be nice and firm enough to look good. Put some salt in the water to help that process.
Strain it and then run some cold water through it for a bit until it is cooled down.
Next, you need to put the pasta in a big bowl mixing in the green olives, fresh basil pesto, and pine nuts.
Once that is achieved you can add the cherry tomatoes, chopped fresh basil leaves, and olive oil. Use salt and pepper to your taste and place it in the fridge to chill.
The salad should be served responsibly as it contains a lot of calories and sodium, thus it is not recommended for regular consumption. 🙂 You will most likely feel the urge to eat more though!
With all of this, you should be ready to take on any social event that requires a quick and tasty meal. What would you pair this recipe with?
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
Ingredients
Basil Pesto Ingredients
- 2 cups basil leaves fresh
- 1/2 cup parmesan-reggiano grated
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
- 3 garlic cloves
- salt and pepper to taste
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
- 1 cup peas frozen or fresh
- 4 cups uncooked rotini
- 1 cup fresh basil pesto
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 2 tbsp green olives finely chopped
- 12 oz cherry tomatoes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper
- basil leaves fresh
Instructions
Pesto Directions
- Combine the pine nuts and basil and using a food processor you should give them a few pulses.
- Add the garlic and give them a few more pulses.
- Slowly add the olive oil in a constant, slow stream while the processor is on. Stop it from time to time to scrape the walls so you can achieve a uniform mix.
- Add the cheese and pulse until nicely blended, then add a bit of salt and ground black pepper to taste.
Basil Pesto Salad Directions
- The first thing you have to do is cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package. Make sure it's not too soft as you want them to be nice and firm enough to look good. Put some salt in the water to help that process.
- Strain it and then run some cold water through it for a bit until it is cooled down.
- Next, you need to put the pasta in a big bowl mixing in the green olives, fresh basil pesto, and pine nuts.
- Once that is achieved you can add the cherry tomatoes, chopped fresh basil leaves, and olive oil. Use salt and pepper to your taste and place it in the fridge to chill.
- The salad should be served responsibly as it contains a lot of calories and sodium, thus it is not recommended for regular consumption. 🙂 You will most likely feel the urge to eat more though!
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