0 from 3 votes
Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad is light, fresh, and chocked-full of amazing flavor. It’s so simple to make that it’s a MUST-HAVE for any potluck or picnic!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 458 kcal
Course:
Side Dish
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
For the pesto:
- 3 cups fresh basil packed
- 1 cup fresh parsley packed
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ⅓ cup pine nuts toasted
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup parmesan grated
For the salad:
- 16 ounces rotini pasta
- 6 ounces black olives sliced
- 6 ounces roasted red peppers chopped
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package directions, cooking until al dente. Drain the pasta and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
- To make the pesto: In a food processor puree basil, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and pine nuts until smooth. With the motor running, add olive oil and process until a thick paste forms. Add Parmesan and pulse twice. Season with more salt and pepper, if desired.
- Place the pasta, black olives, roasted red peppers (or tomatoes) and feta cheese in a large bowl. Mix to combine. Add pesto in increments, stirring between each addition until it suits your family's tastes. If applicable, reserve the remaining pesto for another use.
- Serve pasta salad immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving time.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- You can substitute 10 ounces fresh grape tomatoes that have been cut in half in place of the roasted red peppers, if desired.
- *Nutrition information is based on using ALL of the pesto this recipe makes.
Nutrition Information
Calories
458kcal
(23%)
Carbohydrates
47g
(16%)
Protein
13g
(26%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Cholesterol
13mg
(4%)
Sodium
981mg
(41%)
Potassium
284mg
(8%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
1389IU
(28%)
Vitamin C
23mg
(26%)
Calcium
180mg
(18%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 458
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 458kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 47g | 16% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 13mg | 4% |
| Sodium | 981mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 284mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 1389IU | 28% |
| Vitamin C | 23mg | 26% |
| Calcium | 180mg | 18% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.