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0 from 15 votes

Lentil Pesto Pasta Salad

A lentil pasta salad with lentil pesto! It's flavourful, simple to prepare, and tastes fantastic warm or cold.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories: 384 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course , Appetizer
Cuisine: Italian , American , Canadian

Ingredients

For the lentil pesto
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves packed
  • ½ cup green lentils cooked or canned
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice approx. half a lemon
  • 2-3 tablespoons vegetable broth
  • salt + pepper to taste
For the lentil pasta salad
  • ½ pound rotini pasta or other short pasta
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
  • ½ cup green lentils cooked or canned
  • ½ cup slivered almonds toasted

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package directions for 'al dente' pasta. Drain, (BUT reserve ½ cup of pasta water) place in a large bowl, and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, add all the lentil pesto ingredients except the broth to your food processor and process until finely chopped, scraping down the sides as needed. Then add 2-3 tablespoons of the broth to thin your pesto to your liking. Taste for salt and pepper and add some if needed.
  3. Now add the pesto, the other ½ cup of lentils, the cherry tomatoes, and slivered almonds (reserving some for garnish) to the bowl of cooked pasta. Mix well and add some of the reserved pasta water if needed. Serve warm or cold.

Notes

  • Leftover lentil pasta salad will keep refrigerated for 3-4 days. I don't recommend freezing.
  • Salt your pasta water. Make sure to add enough salt to your pot of water for the best texture and flavour. Here’s a handy guide to help you salt your water perfectly each time.
  • Cook your pasta ‘al dente’. Al dente pasta is typically 1-3 minutes “underdone”. This is how Italians eat their pasta. 😉 We like a little bit of bite, and no mush.

Nutrition Information

Calories 384cal (19%) Carbohydrates 63g (21%) Protein 17g (34%) Fat 8g (12%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Sodium 30mg (1%) Potassium 734mg (21%) Fiber 9g (36%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 900IU (18%) Vitamin C 32mg (36%) Calcium 86mg (9%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 384

% Daily Value*

Calories 384cal 19%
Carbohydrates 63g 21%
Protein 17g 34%
Fat 8g 12%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Sodium 30mg 1%
Potassium 734mg 16%
Fiber 9g 36%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 900IU 18%
Vitamin C 32mg 36%
Calcium 86mg 9%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.